The program intends to demonstrate how quality food can be offered at affordable prices thus tackling food waste and poverty. Our objective is to train young people (16-25) in all aspects of street food and catering in order for them to acquire the necessary skills to develop their own independent businesses in due course. We see food as being a fantastic medium for breaking down cultural barriers and strengthening bonds between the different communities within Leicester. The program will be both theory and practical learning where the young people will have the opportunity to work in a real life working environment. We understand opportunities have become more limited during the pandemic and tangible employment routes have diminished for young people, The United Kitchen provides a positive platform for young people to thrive. By seeking funding to upgrade and start up a mobile kitchen, we want to build a enterprise that offers young people opportunities to employment via street food.

What we'll deliver:

• Regular fixed venue kitchen in Hamilton
• 6-12 month training program
• Mobile street vendors
• up to 8 young people qualified with appropriate qualifications
• Offer route for employment or self employment using skills learnt

Why it's a great idea:

The main benefits of this project will be to raise awareness of and prevent food waste and poverty, and to provide the learners with creative and innovative ways of delivering and bringing international cuisine and culture to a wider audience. By empowering young people to deliver such a positive message of cultural inclusion we hope to create employment opportunities for young people especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds, allowing them to share their vision of a more inclusive society that will provide a template for other young people to aspire to. We are looking to bring attention towards a healthy lifestyle via the education of food and nutrition dispelling the myth that flavoursome foods are generally unhealthy and offering the public convenient healthy food options. We intend to work in partnership with local food businesses and food surplus organisations to create a working model for future success.

Steps to get it done:

• Refurb & upgrade mobile kitchen for commercial use
• vinyl wrap and brand vehicle
• marketing & advertising of project enterprise
• recruitment and training of trainees / appropriate personnel
• pitch at site & start project
• train and upskill young people to work within the enterprise