Food Academy Plus
Dear friends,
This week, we’re launching our flagship Food Academy Plus programme for anyone who wants to secure employment in the catering industry.
We have lots of employers ready to hire graduates of Food Academy Plus and successful participants will receive a confirmed interview with one of our partners.
Food Academy Plus is a 4-week intensive programme that combines business and catering skills training with lots of personal development opportunities to help you apply and win a full-time role at a local restaurant.
Across the programme, participants will be set lots of challenges, including running a food stall at Wembley Food Market and a setting up a pop-up restaurant at Sufra NW London. Participants will receive a FREE travel card for the month.
The course starts on Monday 5 March 2018.
Apply now – the deadline is in 3 weeks and we’re shortlisting for interview the moment your application lands on our desk! Click here for more details and an Application Form.
Separately…
For younger budding chefs, the next round of Food Academy starts on Saturday 24 February 2018. Click here for a Registration Form.
Supermarket Collections
In all my time at Sufra NW London, I have never witnessed such high demand at the Food Bank. The moment a food collection takes place, everything that comes in literally gets handed out the following Wednesday and Sunday.
Please help us to keep up with demand by volunteering at one of our Supermarket Collections. The first is this weekend! We only need you for a few hours…
Saturday/Sunday 10/11 February 2018 (Asda Wembley Park) – Sign up here.
Saturday/Sunday 24/25 March 2018 (Asda Wembley Park) – Sign up here.
Annual Referral Agency Briefing – Thursday 15 February 2018 (1pm-3pm)
The Food Bank is reliant on referrals from over 50 different agencies across North-West London. Every year, we review our referral policies and invite new, existing and potential Referral Agencies to a special briefing to discuss changes and developments to the system.
Attendance by a representative of every Referral Agency is mandatory – otherwise, we unfortunately have to de-register an agency. If you are an existing Referral Agency or work for an organisation that would like to become a Referral Agency, register your attendance here.
Growing Club and More…
Whilst it’s still a little chilly (why am I lying, it’s fricking freezing) we’re prepping for the launch of our Growing Club on Wednesdays and Sundays from 10am to 2pm. With an amazing array of raised beds to plant, everyone is welcome to help grow all-natural produce for the Food Bank.
If you can’t wait that long, get in touch with Jim (jim@sufra-nwlondon.org.uk) and help him prepare some seedlings in the polytunnel.
There’s much more happening in the garden after Easter.
Growing Academy for both children and adults launches soon – an accredited 6-session course in all the basics of growing your own fruit and vegetables. We will also be launching our Creative Artisanal Workshops after school, where the whole family can join us to make candles, soaps and greeting cards out of garden waste! Keep in touch to be part of all the action.
Chinese New Year at Sufra NW London
We won’t be making any Brexit trade deals, but we’d like to invite you for a special themed night at Community Kitchen on Friday 23 February to celebrate Chinese New Year.
Kitty, one of our volunteers, will be coming along with her Papa as our Guest Chef to prepare a sumptuous 3-course meal – with the help of our band of eager volunteers (Papa speaks no English, so that should be fun!).
Unlike the posh lady who called yesterday asking to make a reservation for Friday, you are welcome to just turn up any time after 6pm to join us. I think she meant to call Sufra Restaurant in Swiss Cottage, which really bears no resemblance to our Community Kitchen. Our table linen is spotless.
A Car Wash Like No Other
The Youth Committee have only just realised they’re broke. The problem is that they’re too generous – they’ve been spending loads of money buying presents for Food Bank guests. So, 14-year-old Nayem has decided to run a car wash on Saturday/Sunday 24/25 February from 11am to 5pm on St. Raphael’s Edible Garden.
For just £10 (or £8 if you book online), the Youth Committee will wash and vacuum your car while you enjoy a cup of tea in the tipi. You can even reserve your time slot, as no doubt there will be a queue of Uber cars outside (Nayem already runs a car wash enterprise on St. Raphael’s Estate which is a hub for Uber drivers).
To book online, click here.
And finally…
In April 2018, Sufra NW London celebrates its 5th anniversary – and when we party, we just don’t stop! There’s a whole year of celebrations planned so make sure you keep up to date with our Facebook and Twitter posts.
Have a great week.
Yours,
Mohammed S Mamdani
Director
