Website: www.onlyconnectuk.org
Description:
OC West is a members' club in White City for people aged 16-25 who are unemployed and at risk of offending when they first join. Funded by H&F Council, its mission is to help them into work, develop their talents and passions (including through starting their own businesses), and give them opportunities to contribute to the wider community.
Funded until:
31 March 2018
Annual funding:
£10,240
In the past year…
Eleven residents have been helped by four volunteers giving up 786 hours of their time and internet.
Successes:
After successfully completing the course, clients have moved into work or further education. Current users are developing their skills to follow in their footsteps.
Looking ahead:
The latest project has been the relaunch of OC Catering, redesigned for Edexcel accreditation. Six regularly attend, all keen to use the course as a launch pad for gaining work, enthusiastically practising their skills at external catered events to improving timing, menu creation, dish complexity and budget-building.
OC West's current focus is on building relations with businesses and community bodies to find jobs, training or partnerships in catering and hospitality. Local business wishing to join can email Tina Bartels at tina.bartels@onlyconnectuk.org.