Prisoner Rehabilitation Chef Runner Up
for Basque Culinary World Prize
A
lberto Crisci MBE, concept founder of The Clink Restaurant and director of Clink
Events, is the only UK chef to be named among 20 chefs worldwide in the Basque
Culinary World Prize shortlist. The prize, organised by the Basque Culinary Center – a
world leading academic institution in gastronomy – recognises chefs who help make
society a better place through food.
Alberto Crisci.
Crisci said, “This global recognition of the support and training we offer prisoners in becoming
professional chefs and service staff helps us to change their lives for the better and helps to
bridge the skills gap the UK hospitality industry is facing.”
The Clink Restaurants are open to the public and give trainees the chance to gain experience
within an exciting, operational and realistic working environment. The trainees also prepare food
for Clink Events that in partnership with likeminded charity Centrepoint – the UK’s leading charity
for homeless young people – provides an event catering service for private cocktail parties and
receptions.
María Fernanda Di Giacobbe from Venezuela was announced as the eventual winner having been
chosen for her work with Venezuelan chocolate through social projects such as Kakao and Cacao
de Origen.
The Clink Restaurant at HMP Brixton.
The Clink’s London restaurant at HMP Brixton seats 120 people and has
five private dining rooms available. Bookings can be made via the
website: www.theclinkcharity.org.
The Institute of Fundraising Finds a New Home
T
he Barbican is to be the home of The
Institute of Fundraising conference for at
least the next three years following its search
for a new venue for the Fundraising Convention,
the largest conference of its kind in the UK.
More than 3,500 delegates recently attended the
Fundraising Convention in what was its first year
using the Barbican. The Institute of Fundraising used
the majority of the venue’s event spaces including
the Barbican Hall and the Conservatory. Following the
success of the convention’s first event in this venue,
it looks set to remain at the Barbican for the
foreseeable future.
“We needed a new home for the convention because
we had outgrown our previous venue and we needed
opportunities for growth – the Barbican provides
that,” explained Katie Johnson, Head of Events at the
Institute. “The range of spaces available to us were
suitable not only for the conference but also
additional activities such as film screenings and a
charity theatre performance. The Barbican provided
a collaborative and flexible partnership, whilst also
offering us a home that gives us the chance to
continue growing in the future.”
The Barbican is a not-for-profit venue with the profit made by business events reinvested back
into the Centre’s arts and outreach programmes. It was this link that has enabled the venue
to understand the nature of the Institute of Fundraising and its requirements for the event.
The Barbican provides a collaborative and
flexible partnership.
Further information about event space at the Barbican
Tel: 020 7382 7043. E-mail: [email protected]
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