A restaurant staffed by inmates on the grounds of a category C prison has launched a new pop-up evening designed to offer diners a unique culinary experience while supporting rehabilitation.
The Secret Diner, which helps inmates at HMP Sudbury to pick up practical skills and improve their employment prospects, has announced a new partnership with The Right Course, which was co-founded by celebrity food expert Fred Sirieix.
The charity provides industry-led hospitality training to inmates across the country, providing sustainable job opportunities and inspiring self-belief.
A three-course meal devised by Lee Smith, owner of Restaurant Lovage in Bakewell and a previous Michelin Star holder, will be served up on Thursday, 26 September.
Fred Sirieix, Founder and Trustee of The Right Course, who is scheduled to appear at the pop-up event, said: “Providing learners with the right skills, experience and inspiration to enter the hospitality industry enables a greater chance of them securing meaningful, long-term employment.
“Without the dedication of our partners, PeoplePlus, as well as inspirational employers, like Lee Smith and the team at Restaurant Lovage, like the Club Soda team, we would not have been able to amplify the skills acquired at The Secret Diner into real jobs with a future.”
Non-alcoholic drinks will be provided by Club Soda, a mindful drinking specialist. The event provides an opportunity for learners at HMP Sudbury’s “Secret Diner” to showcase their skills by working alongside industry professionals.
Simon Sheehan, CEO of The Right Course, added: “The Right Course’s aim is to reduce both reoffending and to tackle the staff shortage in hospitality.
“Our learners play their part by using their sentencing to reskill, but we also need to give them the right support and opportunities so that they can make the right steps upon release.”
The event will feature contributions from hospitality mentors and is designed to encourage local employers to offer job opportunities to prisoners upon their release, helping them reintegrate into society.
Tickets for the pop-up have sold out but a waiting list is available via the website, here.
