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19th Sep 2017

Here is why this Galway restaurant is taking on members of the Simon Community

A cause most definitely worth supporting.

Denise Curtin

Now this is inspiring.

56 Central restaurant in Galway is after teaming up with the Simon Community to develop a new initiative entitled “The Positive Placement Project”.

The idea which was created by restaurant owner Gill Carroll alongside her head chef Vicky Donley, will see them take members of the Simon Community into their kitchen to learn a whole new world of cooking along with vital skills needed to join the work force. 

The pair realised the impact they could make last year when they raised enough funds to build a new kitchen in a women’s residential service of the Galway Simon Community. Seeing the impact and energy the kitchen brought to the women using the service, 56 Central owner Gill promised herself that they would expand on the project.

And they are keeping that promise. Given the current situation where kitchens are finding it more and more difficult to get qualified Chefs, they believe this will be great opportunity to gain skills needed for further employment where a staff shortage clearly exists.

Owner Gill Carroll spoke to Her saying: “We all have a responsibility to help each other in life and I feel like we have to take every oppurtunity we can to give back to those less fortunate. The crew at 56 Central have the same attitude as myself and we are all very driven to give back to the community in Galway.”

Head chef Vicky’s wish is to help up-skill these young individuals so they can leave with a reference and gain employment through her mentoring programme.  

And the first challenge of the mentoring programme is a dinner party. 56 Central will be hosting a unique dinner party on 29th September, where under the guidance of Chef Vicky, members of the Simon Community will prepare a one off dinner party to help raise funds for the annual Sleep out for Simon which takes place on October 6th. 

You can buy tickets to the dinner party and support this incredible cause here.