A group of trainees have taken their first steps towards careers in the catering industry.
Eighteen Pembrokeshire COAST participants have successfully achieved their Level 1 Food Hygiene Certificate.
The training was arranged by Pembrokeshire COAST for the Anchorage Social Activity Centre – a day centre in Pembroke Dock for adults with a learning disability.
Pembrokeshire COAST works with a wide range of people aged 16-64 who face barriers to work due to disability or illness or other social disadvantage.
The kitchen began offering training in July 2008 when the Anchorage Centre’s cook retired and it was agreed that customers attending the centre would start to prepare their own meals.
While they were given basic food hygiene and health & safety training, the courses were not accredited as the customers could not cope with the standard training formats available.
In November last year, the kitchen linked with the Pembrokeshire COAST project to offer its facilities as a training kitchen enabling COAST participants to work towards gaining jobs in the catering industry.
The training was arranged with Sara Rhys-Owens of Sara Safety Solutions, who designed a specialist training programme. Rather than traditional class room learning the participants learnt through a variety of activities and mediums.
This enabled three groups with diverse disabilities from across Pembrokeshire to achieve their Level 1 qualification with some now progressing to Level 2.
The successful candidates were presented with their certificates on Monday (22nd November).
As well catering for their own needs the Anchorage is now able to offer external buffets during business hours. For more information call 01646 686177.
To find out more about COASTAL project and other training schemes visit www.coastalproject.co.uk.
Pembrokeshire COAST is part of the COASTAL Project, a six county partnership led by the City and County of Swansea and part funded by the European Social Fund under the 2007-2013 Convergence Programme for West Wales and the Valleys. Pembrokeshire County Council is the local partner in the Project.
