Only A Pavement Away, the hospitality sector charity aiding prison leavers, veterans and those facing homelessness find employment in the hospitality sector, toasted the industry, while raising an incredible £35,500 its annual Cook and Dine event yesterday.

The event, held at the stunning Grade 2 listed Freemasons Hall in Covent Garden was attended by over 300 hospitality professionals, who were served by many industry leaders volunteering on the day such as UKHospitality CEO Kate Nicholls, BBPA CEO Emma McClarkin, BII CEO Steve Alton and celebrated chef and Only A Pavement Away ambassador, Tom Aikens, who prepared the delicious 3 course lunch. The amount raised, which is still rising, was the combination of table ticket sales, a charity auction, and also a raffle with companies from across the industry donating prizes and auction lots. 

The premise of this unique fundraising event is simple; to bring everyone who works in the hospitality industry together, no matter their background, experience or seniority and raise funds to help support people facing homelessness find and forge new careers in hospitality. As industry guests and volunteers cook together, serve together and dine together.

This is the 3rd Cook and Dine event, last year's event helped to raise £21,000 for the charity, vital funds which have allowed Only A Pavement away to support over 250 people facing homelessness into jobs within hospitality to date.
Money raised from this year’s event will deliver vital resources in Only A Pavement Away’s mission to provide pathways out of homelessness into purposeful employment within the hospitality industry. Only A Pavement Away has set out to place 1,000 people back into employment by June 2024. To deliver this ambition, the charity is determined to create a fundraising structure to enable a team of 21 by end of 2023 at a cost of £878k.

Greg Mangham, CEO, Only A Pavement Away, said “We were thrilled with the success of yesterday’s Cook & Dine fundraising event which came together with the support of so many people from our wonderful industry. I would like to extend thanks to all those who attended and partnered with us for their huge generosity – from the United Grand Lodge of England that donated the venue again this year, Strand Palace Hotel for providing their kitchen as a holding kitchen, to all of our amazing sponsors MAPAL, Caterer.com, Asahi, Mr Yum, Zonal and HIT training, through to our amazing Ambassador Tom Aikens who prepared such a fabulous meal for us all alongside a fantastic army of volunteers from across hospitality that served and waited tables. 

“The success of Cook and Dine just highlights what a brilliant, inclusive and supportive industry we are all fortunate to a part of. All money raised will support us in our mission to place 1,000 people back into employment by June 2024.”

Companies that were involved in supporting yesterday’s event included Britvic Soft Drinks, TipJar, Liberty Wines, Hildon Water, Pub Love, Firebird Events, Dennys Brands, Strand Palace Hotel and

Rayners Catering Equipment Hire. Food suppliers included Smith & Brock, Lake District Farmers, Paddy & Scotts, and Woods Foodservice. 

Only A Pavement Away is seeking further hospitality partners interested in supporting the charity as part of its ESG commitment to help 1,000 people facing homelessness, prison leavers and veterans develop life skills, become job ready and provide them with a direct route into employment.