Latest Clink chef ambassador Antonio Carluccio

The Clink names Antonio Carluccio as a chef ambassador

18th January 2012, 10:11am

The Clink Charity and Restaurant has announced that TV chef and restaurant/deli chain operator Antonio Carluccio is its latest chef ambassador.

He will join fellow Italian gastronome Giorgio Locatelli and consultant Vic Laws in helping to promote the work of the charity.

The Clink Restaurant, situated within HMP High Down in Surrey is the first and only commercial restaurant to be built inside a working British prison.

It offers a training scheme for prisoners that helps them work as chefs and front of house staff in a true-to-life environment, learning a valuable trade and gaining nationally recognised qualifications in the process.

Over the past year Carluccio has given a great deal of his time and expertise to The Clink, running training workshops for the prisoners, as well as hosting several fundraising events to increase awareness of the charity and raise much needed funds.

He said: "To be made a chef ambassador of The Clink is a great honour for me and I am extremely proud of the work and progress that has been achieved over the last 12 months. Working closely with the prisoners has been hugely rewarding and I look forward to continuing the training with them throughout 2012."

The Clink works towards the rehabilitation of prisoners and securing graduates from The Clink full-time employment within the hospitality industry upon their release.

It has trained 111 prisoners since opening in 2009, 26 of whom have been released. Of those, 22 are currently in full-time employment and just two have re-offended.

Chris Moore, chief executive of The Clink says: "To have such a highly regarded chef with so much valuable knowledge of the industry, as Antonio has, is of huge benefit to the prisoners learning and development.

"It is a delight to welcome him as a chef ambassador for the coming three years and we all look forward to what is set to be another successful year."

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