Firstly we would like to thank all our customers and supporters for their understanding and support during this time of national crisis. As many of you are aware, we had to close all The Clink restaurants, Café and Event training projects after the important instruction from the Government was received last week.
For everyone who was due to dine with us in these past few weeks and in the short term future, we will be back in touch to re-book once we are up and running and look forward being able to serve you once again. By dining with us you are giving our students the valuable experience they require in order to gain their level 2 City and Guilds National Vocational Qualifications in hospitality. Thank you.
Changes for The Clink teams
We took the decision, in conjunction with HMPPS and instruction from the Prime Minister, to close all our training projects including the gardens to ensure all non-essential workers stay at home. As a result, the majority of our workers have been working from home, updating important administration and course work. With the announcement that we were able to safeguard jobs, we are placing many of our workers on the Government’s COVID-19 Job Retention Scheme from Wednesday 1st April. This means all our reservations systems and the on line shop will not be monitored until the staff return to work.
Volunteering to support the national effort against the virus
Many of our furloughed staff will be making themselves available to volunteer at local charities and also to HMPPS to potentially cook prisoners meals in the main prison kitchens should their staff sickness levels affect the production of meals.
Community support for Clink Graduates continues
In contrast, our full time Clink support workers are continuing their critical work, now remotely, to support Graduates in the community and also those about to be released from prison in the coming weeks. The Clink Charity number one concern at this time is the safety and health of our staff and graduates. So far this week, we have assisted 98 Graduates in the community that have been released from Clink training projects over the last 6-9 months. Still vulnerable and requiring our daily collective support, Clink support workers provide an essential service in their lives.
The media has been full of news about the effect on so many industries including hospitality. As a result of the outbreak of COVID-19, many of our Graduates have been affected, losing jobs and accommodation with little or no money for basic provisions.
Our role to support Graduates doesn’t stop and we have pledged to do everything we can to support those most in need.
Launching the COVID-19 Clink Graduate Emergency Fund
In response to the crisis that so many of our most vulnerable Graduates now face, we have set up an emergency fund to ensure we can provide a night in a hostel or emergency food supplies in the form of pre-loaded grocery store cards. We never give cash away and we’re there to manage the emergency measures we provide to each person.
Thank you
We would like to thank everyone for their continued support, enabling us to continue to change attitudes, transform lives and importantly ensure those second chances are there now and in the future.
We hope that you, your family and friends keep in good health at this time, and we look forward to welcoming you back and serving you very soon.