An online chocolate auction and raffle called ‘Chocs for Chance’ has raised over £6800 to support into-work programme Galvin’s Chance.
For the third year running, top chefs and chocolatiers joined Chocs for Chance to make Valentine’s Day a little bit more special to help young people who are not in education or employment. The participants created beautiful, one-of-a-kind chocolate boxes that were entered into a 10 day auction on eBay . There was also an opportunity for supporters to enter our raffle for a chance of winning exclusive chocolates designed by Fred Sirieix, and one of four other gourmet chocolate boxes created for the campaign. All proceeds from the auction and raffle went towards supporting Galvin’s Chance.
Galvin’s Chance is an into-work programme for young people in London who face barriers to employment. The programme seeks to predominantly target those at risk of crime and offer them a real alternative. Galvin’s Chance was founded by Chris Galvin, Chef Patron, and Fred Sirieix, General Manager of the Michelin-starred restaurant Galvin at Windows and star of Channel 4’s “First Dates”. The programme takes 24 young people a year and offers them training and opportunities for a front of house career in some of the most prestigious hotels, restaurants and food service management organisations in London. Galvin’s Chance candidates undertake a three weeks training programme and are guaranteed an interview and work placement in some of London’s top hotels and restaurants, including Hilton, The Lansdowne Club and The Dorchester.
“Galvin’s Chance is amazing because it is about the industry giving a chance to young people. We believe success is contextual and so if you give people guidance, opportunities and support, they will succeed and that is why we do it” - Fred Sirieix.
To raise funds to support Galvin’s Chance, Fred and Chris launched Chocs for Chance in 2015, since then the campaign has raised £25,000. That means that 15 young people have gone on to the programme and seen their lives transformed. Young people like Aaron, who joined Galvin’s Chance last year. After successfully completing the training, Aaron is now working at Park Plaza in the meetings and events team. He says about his experience with Galvin’s Chance: “I was involved with the wrong crowd and I knew something had to change, because if I continued on the same path it would not end well. Galvin’s Chance helped me secure a job and become confident with new skills. It made me turn my life around and realise there’s more to life than what I was doing before. I would definitely recommend other young people in my situation to join the programme, because you are provided with full support. You’ll feel like a new person during the programme, as there are lots of new skills you can learn. If you put your mind to it and work hard, you can secure a full time job.”
Since 2009, a total of 160 young people have enrolled in the programme, and 80% of them have gone on to secure long term, successful careers either in hospitality or other sectors.
“I love what Chris and Fred have done. Too many young people feel like they have no future or do not have aspirations, it is important we teach them a career and to believe in themselves”- Michel Roux Jnr
“Thanks to initiatives like Chocs for Chance, we can work together to support the lives of unemployed young people into stable careers within the hospitality sector and help them fulfil their potential and change their lives for the better” – Chris Galvin.
This year’s campaign was sponsored by Martell, the oldest of the great cognac houses in the UK; and supported by Keylink, who provided the iconic red velvet heart-shaped boxes, and Valrhona, the prestigious French chocolate company, who (for the third year running) donated the delicious chocolate couverture which chefs will use to create their masterpieces.
For more information on Chocs for Chance, please visit: www.chocsforchance.org or alternatively please visit galvinschance.org for more information about the programme.