Sargents’ support keeps doors of cafe project open
Sargents Pies donates $100,000 to The Salvation Army’s Café Horizons. (From left to right) Jesse Fox, Café Horizons, Daryl Smiles, Café Horizons, John Drew, Youthlink, Karl Fretwell, Sargents Pies, Brian Andrews, Sargents Pies. Phil Wilson Salvation Army PR. (Photo supplied by Youthlink)
A generous donation to The Salvation Army’s Cafe Horizons will allow it continue to train and support some of western Sydney’s most marginalised young people.
Sargents Pies has donated $100,000 to Youthlink, The Salvation Army’s specialist youth service in Greater Western Sydney. It will use the funding to continue operating it’s Cafe Horizons programs in Cabramatta and St Marys, providing vocational training in hospitality to at-risk young people.
“Cafe Horizons St Marys does not currently receive any core government funding,” says Youthlink’s Janine Tomkins. “This donation will enable it to operate for the next 12 months while we continue to seek long-term government funding support.”
The cafes not only provide much-needed vocational training, they also assist students with personal issues, professional development opportunities and life skills training. In addition to providing accredited training, the cafe youth worker also offers personal support throughout the program and job-seeking assistance.
One recent student, Jenni (not her real name) is now in full-time employment as an apprentice chef.
“When Jenni was referred to Cafe Horizons last year she had a dream of becoming a chef, but a lack of support and circumstances at home were holding her back,” says Janine.
“Jenni was quite anxious and lacked confidence in herself when she started, but with the successful completion of each unit of theory work and with support from the cafe staff she gradually began to gain confidence in her ability.”
After Jenni completed all of the units for her Certificate II in Hospitality, her hard-working nature prompted Cafe Horizons to keep her on staff after her graduation while she looked for employment.
“With her new-found confidence and skills gained from the cafe, Jenni has now successfully gained full-time employment as an apprentice chef – the start of realising her long-held dream,” says Janine.
Youthlink is encouraging other corporations to partner with it in working to break the cycle of disadvantage and give hope to marginalised young people in western Sydney.
Anybody interested can contact Youthlink on: (02) 9725 7779.
Comments
Is there any simular programs that run in the Central Coast Area ? NSW, If not, what advice/suggestions could you offer in setting something like a 'Horizon's Cafe ' up within the Central Coast Area?