Bartlett Mitchell, one of the UK’s leading independent caterers, has announced a new partnership with The Clink Charity to supply its premium coffee brand Perkee and deliver barista skills for prisoners undertaking its training programmes.
As part of the collaboration, the caterer will roll out its sustainable Fairtrade coffee offer across The Clink’s four restaurants and their Manchester café.
In addition to introducing its signature Perkee coffee brand, Bartlett Mitchell will also play an active role in supporting The Clink Cafe Charity’s high street cafe in Manchester, which opened last year in Canada House, Chepstow Street. The company will provide direct training to the cafe team, regular audits and offer menu development and marketing support.
Founded in 2009, The Clink Charity dramatically reduces reoffending rates by delivering City and Guilds NVQ training in real life working environments to the prisoners in training.
The charity also meets the Clink graduates at the gate upon release and finds them accommodation and full time employment. The Clink’s support workers are there 24 hours a day, seven days a week to help them re-adjust back into society which dramatically reduces reoffending.
Ian Thomas, CEO at Bartlett Mitchell, said, “The Clink is doing incredible work. Prisoners that go through its programme are 41% less likely to reoffend and we are delighted to support the charity on their journey.
“As a sustainable brand, Bartlett Mitchell is always looking for new ways in which we can have a positive impact within the communities we serve.
“This partnership enables us to give back to both the UK Hospitality industry and our society by up-skilling prisoners, growing the potential talent pool in a sector beset with skills shortages and creating job opportunities that help to reduce reoffending rates.”
Christopher Moore, CEO at The Clink Charity, added, “We’re hugely thankful to Bartlett Mitchell for their support with this exciting initiative.
'By introducing their award-winning Perkee Fairtrade coffee to our restaurants and cafe not only ensures that our customers receive a premium product but at the same time our students are learning barista skills.
'The other side of the transaction is that it also improves the lives of the Soppexcca Cooperative farmers in Nicaragua.”