Staff at a unique catering training project took part in their first major event – serving canapés to 200 VIP guests at the opening gala of Carmarthen’s new Apollo Cinema.
The ‘posh nosh’ was served by participants of the COASTAL scheme, a Carmarthenshire County Council partnership project which develops a range of training and employment schemes for adults who face employment barriers as a result of severe disabilities or chronic health conditions.
Since March 1 this year, they have been running a vibrant new café and meeting facility at County Hall – SA31 @ Neuadd Y Sir.
The Apollo event was the first outside catering assignment the participants have worked on.
SA31 co-ordinator Tim Reilly said: “It was fantastic to be given the opportunity to cater for such a prestigious event. We hope this success will give us the platform to deliver more work experience opportunities for our participants coming through the project. I’m very proud of them all for making it work so well.”
Each of the participants on the training scheme at SA31 are learning valuable skills in food preparation, customers service and business.
They are supervised by qualified catering trainers, and will gain certificates on completion of the course, which will help open new doors to future employment.
The COASTAL scheme is being run in Carmarthenshire and in neighbouring authorities in Swansea, Neath Port Talbot and Pembroke.
The scheme is part-funded from the European Social Fund and match-funded by the partnership authorities.
Carmarthenshire has secured £5.6million from the project fund to address economic activity in the county, and is set to support 1,000 people over the next four years to access lifelong learning, skills and employment.
The gala opening of Apollo last night was the first event in a weekend full of celebrations to welcome the new £74million St Catherine’s Walk development, which has regenerated Carmarthen Town Centre.
Carmarthenshire County Council leader Cllr Meryl Gravell said: “It was delightful to see the SA31 team doing such a professional job at the gala opening. Everyone was commenting on the quality of the food and the customer service.
“I’m sure it was an experience they will never forget, and I’d like to congratulate them for doing so well.”
