Celebrity chefs take part in charity challenge

A mix of celebrities, chefs, athletes and senior executives will be lacing up their trainers to take part in a charity challenge on Wednesday to help disadvantaged young people into work.

Celebrities including former England footballer Graeme Le Saux, hotelier Sir Rocco Forte, chef Michel Roux junior and several of Sky One's Gladiators are set to run the Mayfair Park and Tower Race – a 4.5 km sprint around the Serpentine Lake in Hyde Park followed by a tower run up 28 floors to the top of the London Hilton on Park Lane.

The goal of the event is to raise £30,000 for a new charity apprenticeship programme called Galvin's Chance which will offer a series of apprenticeships in some of London's finest hotels.

The project has been initiated by Hilton in the Community Foundation – Hilton's charitable arm which has a focus on helping disadvantaged young people - and the Galvin at Windows restaurant, the finish point for the race.

Graeme Le Saux said: "There are thousands of young people across London who can only dream of working in a place like Galvin at Windows – our aim with this fundraising event is to make that dream more of a reality for a handful of lucky youths." 

Galvin's Chance will provide an opportunity to disadvantaged young people in London between the ages of 18-24. The pilot programme will be delivered in partnership with Springboard Charity Trust, which specialises in helping young unemployed and disadvantaged people improve their prospects – through developing skills and finding sustainable jobs in the hospitality, leisure travel and tourism industries.

The Mayfair Times is also co-organising the race and is the official media partner for Galvin's Chance. The programme will include industry leading training towards a 'front of house' hotel career – one which requires dedication, ambition and enthusiasm. 

By working with other key partners such as the Solve This Ongoing Problem (STOP) campaign and The Emmanuel Youth Project, Galvin's Chance will engage with young people through a youth worker referral process. Once the initial group of 20 young people has been found they will start an introductory training programme in August run by Springboard and tailored to equip them with all the skills they need to succeed.

They will then have the opportunity to be placed as apprentices at a series of top-end establishments around London in September, including Galvin at Windows at the London Hilton on Park Lane.

All participants will also engage in training at Westminster Kingsway College as part of the programme. The Apprenticeship will take up to 12 months to complete and the college courses should lead to an NVQ Level 2.

Simon Sheehan, director Hilton in the Community Foundation, said: "The race will be fun, but the intent is serious. Galvin's Chance is there to help real people, who might have not had every opportunity, to change their lives. We hope it will grow over the years and make a real difference."

More information can be found at http://mayfairparkandtowerrace.com.

Words: Maria Bracken

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