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A former jobless teenager is cooking up a storm thanks to a scheme that teaches young people on Sheppey kitchen skills.
Michael Spokes was unemployed for five months before he signed up to First Service via Jobcentre Plus, Sheerness, in January.
The course aims to get 18 to 24-year-olds off the dole and into the catering and hospitality industry. As part of their tuition, entrants attend weekly cooking sessions with community chef Mike Spackman at The Quays in Sittingbourne.
After passing an interview, participants also receive motivational coaching sessions, employment training and are given work experience at Cafe Rouge in Maidstone and Canterbury.
Mr Spokes is now a breakfast chef for Park Resorts at Shurland Dale Holiday Park, Eastchurch.
The 19-year-old said: “I’d never really done much cooking before. I never really thought of it when I was younger, but I absolutely loved the course.
“I’ve got the skills now. There’s a lot I can improve on, but I certainly got what I needed out of it.
“At first I wasn’t too confident, but they brought you into it slowly. Mike would always show us step by step which was very helpful. I can definitely see how far I’ve come in such a short time.”
In the first week, he made chicken chasseur from scratch, learning how to prepare and cook the meat.
The West Street, Blue Town, resident is not sure if he’s going to pursue a career in cooking, but said: “I do enjoy myself. Preparing food is a lot of fun and certainly something I want to do more.”
Project manager Dominic Scannell works with local farmers and growers to promote local produce.
He said they are passionate about food and its regenerative power and because Swale is in the Garden of England, he believes it can play a part in revitalising the area as happened in Whitstable.
Of the 19 people to complete First Service, seven of them have come off benefits so far. A new intake is starting this month and the scheme has been recommissioned for September to include anyone over the age of 18.
