Only a Pavement Away – The Weavers' Company

Only a Pavement Away is a charity founded by representatives from the hospitality industry who believe that everyone deserves the chance to find and forge a career. Their aim is to act as an effective conduit between forward-thinking hospitality employers and charities working with people facing homelessness, prison leavers and veterans who struggling to get into work, overcome hurdles by finding jobs within the hospitality, pub and restaurant industry.

The Company’s grant helped towards their custodial services work in prisons. Through the grant they reached 959 candidates and 66 prison leavers (including 11 womenn) were supported into roles in the hospitality industry and they are all still in them.

Shabnam Demonstrating Pastry Work at the Hilton

First of all, I would sincerely thank you all for giving me this valuable opportunity. I have gone through very difficult times in the past; I even spent time in prison. But it was there that you came and created a way of hope for me. You were the starting point, helping me to find work at Hilton. Today, I am truly happy that my life has changed. As a single woman with an eleven-year-old son, I have been able to build a new path and manage my life, which makes me proud. Later, I weas offered this bursary. Winning the bursary meant that two professional and high-quality classes were registered for me which I could never have afforded on my own. This has made me extremely excited and motivated. As i have always said, I want to be a useful for Hilton and in my work. My goal is to learn new skills in the pastry and bakery section, and most importantly, to be able in the future to hold workshops for women who have faced situations similar to mine - to support them, teach them, and help them change their lives as well. Once again, thank you for this opportunity and for believing in me. - Shabnam, Only a Pavement Away member of the Hilton Staff