OAPA Cook & Dine raises more than £30k

23-Sep-2022 - Last updated on 23-Sep-2022 at 07:55 GMT

Teaming up: an army of volunteers from across the sector came together for the Cook & Dine event

Related tags Events Charity Finance Only A Pavement Away

Hospitality sector charity Only A Pavement Away (OAPA) has raised £35,000 net at its annual Cook & Dine event.

Taking place earlier this week (Wednesday 21 September) at Freemasons Hall in Covent Garden, central London, Cook & Dine, which was the third event of its kind, was attended by more than 300 hospitality professionals, served by a plethora of industry leaders.

These volunteers included British Institute of Innkeeping chief executive Steve Alton, UKHospitality CEO Kate Nicholls and British Beer & Pub Association boss Emma McClarkin.

Fundraising aim

OAPA ambassador and celebrated chef Tom Aikens prepared the three-course lunch on the day.

Cook & Dine raised tens of thousands through table ticket sales, a charity auction and a raffle, which featured prizes and auction lots donated from firms across the sector.

The funds will allow the charity to deliver resources in its mission to provide pathways out of homelessness into employment in the hospitality industry.

Its aim is to put 1,000 people back into employment in just under two years’ time and to deliver this, it is planning to create a fundraising structure to enable a 21-strong team by the end of next year, costing £878,000.

Wonderful industry

OAPA CEO Greg Mangham said: “We were thrilled with the success of the Cook & Dine fundraising event, which came together with the support of so many people from our wonderful industry.

“I would like to extend thanks to all those who attended and partnered with us for their huge generosity.

“From the United Grand Lodge of England that donated the venue again this year, Strand Palace Hotel for providing the kitchen as a holding kitchen, to all our amazing sponsors MAPAL, Caterer.com, Asahi, Mr Yum, Zonal and HIT Training, through to our amazing ambassador Tom Aikens, who prepared such a fabulous meal for us all alongside a fantastic army of volunteers from across hospitality that served and waited tables.”

The success of the event showcased how supportive and inclusive the industry is, Mangham said.

He added: “All money raised will support us in our mission to place 1,000 people back into employment by June 2024.”