Following its successful #FiveMinuteFeast cookery competition, the hospitality against homelessness charity, Only a Pavement Away, is launching its new cookbook in partnership with charity ambassador and Michelin Star Chef, Tom Aikens, featuring recipes from the social media challenge.

With the aim of raising further funds for the charity and its members, the Tom Aikens OAPA Cookbook will feature recipes from a combination of members of the public and world-class chefs that go to help consumers create tasty dishes in just 5 minutes.

All proceeds from the sale of the Tom Aikens OAPA Cookbook will be used to support members into employment and independent living, with eighty-five pence of every £1 donated to Only a Pavement Away going directly towards supporting members into work.

The charity’s previous fundraising initiative, launched in conjunction with Tom Aikens and during the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic first lockdown, saw over 200 participants take part online to create their own ‘five-minute feast’, donate £5 to the Hospitality Against Homelessness campaign and nominate five friends to take on the challenge. The challenge saw the participation of many high-profile chefs and restaurateurs, including the likes of Tom Kerridge, Judy Joo, Richard Bertinet and Nieves Barragán Mohacho.

Raising a total of £5,000, all proceeds generated through the challenge were used to support the charity’s Member Pay Gap fund which provided additional financial assistance to Only a Pavement Away members who were on furlough to bridge the 20% pay gap that followed.

Greg Mangham, Founder of Only a Pavement Away, said, “Working in partnership with Tom Aikens has contributed to strengthening our charity even further after a successful year in 2019 getting our members into employment. It’s been a delight to have him on board and we’re excited to see where the launch of this cookbook could take the charity. We hope for the new cookbook to be passed on as a gift, for use at conferences and events in “goody bags” or even just as a user-friendly, personal cookbook.”

Tom Aikens said: “I’ve loved getting to know Greg and the whole team at Only A Pavement Away over the past twelve months, and helping to galvanise support for the Charity Cookery Challenge was one of the most rewarding highlights of my year. Through working together for a common cause, we all showed just how much can be achieved and I hope that this spirit will continue to flourish over the coming months as we look to get the new Charity Cookery Challenge cookbooks published!”

Fraser Giles Partnership has been supporting Only A Pavement Away as its chosen charity since 2020, working with the organisation to source its board of Trustees alongside funding the publication of ‘Tom Aikens OAPA Cookbook’. Damian Chisholm, partner at Fraser Giles Partnership, said: "At FGP we’ve been pleased to play a part in furthering the mission of Only A Pavement Away and we look forward to continuing our partnership with the charity following the book launch.”

Kathy Dyball, Brand Director at Caterer.com, the recruitment specialists who sponsored the Tom Aikens OAPA Cookbook, had this to say about the launch: “The Only A Pavement Away Cookbook with Tom Aikens really captures the spirit of the charity – focused on helping others through hospitality. Packed with fantastic recipes from the hospitality family, and led from the front by the incredible Tom, there’s something delicious for everyone to cook in here, plus the recipes have QR code links to some truly entertaining demo videos. Caterer.com help hospitality people find the right job for them, and we’re committed to supporting Only A Pavement Away in their vital work enabling vulnerable groups into jobs in the sector. We’re delighted to sponsor and support this Cookbook and can’t wait for the launch!”

Frank Bothwell, Founder of Thomas Franks who have also sponsored the Tom Aikens OAPA Cookbook, has said: “We have been proudly supporting Only A Pavement Away for a while now and this cookbook further demonstrates the incredible work that Greg and the team does. Being involved in the development of the cookbook has been a pleasure, especially considering the instrumental impact that the proceeds will have on many people’s lives.”

To celebrate the launch, Only A Pavement Away will also be throwing a sponsored event at The Restaurant Group on 21st July, with Tom Aikens in attendance to sign copies of the cookbook, as well as nibbles and drinks for guests to enjoy.

Andy Hornby, CEO of The Restaurant Group and Only A Pavement Away Trustee, said: “It’s our absolute pleasure to host OAPA for the launch of the brand-new cookbook. This is a brilliant organisation, that is doing everything it can to support those in need, and we couldn’t be happier to be involved. This event will go to showcase the exceptional effort that the team put in every day to get people facing homelessness, prison leavers and veterans into jobs within hospitality.”

Watch the Cookbook launch here

Books are available to purchase for £15: here

For those ordering 10 books or more, it’s £12.50 per book.