Q: Who places huge faith in care leavers and gives them unlimited opportunities to improve their lives? A: Jamie Oliver, as his current C4 series Jamie's Chef is showing yet again.
Four graduates from Oliver's chef training scheme for disadvantaged young people have been competing for the chance to run their own pub.
Dennis Duncanson got down to the last three - although he didn't win in the end. In and out of children's homes as a boy, he has spent time in prison but now looks to have a great future. He has worked in prestigious restaurants, including for Rick Stein in Cornwall, and flew to LA to cook for Brad Pitt's 40th birthday.
Who else is placing such huge faith in care leavers? Why does it take a television programme to do this? Why is the future for Dennis now so much brighter than for the vast majority of care leavers?
Comments (1)
I was disappointed that the so called charity passed over the unemployed, the homeless, ex-convits and young men overcoming drug addiction and instead gave money to Aaron Craze who was already employed, had a home and a family, did not have a criminal record and had no sign of problems with drugs. One of the other finalists considered by the charity was Thasanee Robinson, who said 'I worked as a head-hunter in the City and earned a lot of money'.
If a charity like Shelter passed over the homeless and instead considered giving homes to the rich, and actually gave one to someone already with a home, would you still praise it as charity?
The main beneficiary by a long way of the TV series is the Jamie Oliver brand; one other person has benefitted, Aaron Craze. Channel 4 is wrong to commission Jamie Oliver to make 4 programmes about Jamie Oliver. The way he uses vulnerable people as a storyline in a soap opera all about Jamie and Jools, turns my sotmach.
Posted by A Martin | February 18, 2007 7:22 PM
Posted on February 18, 2007 19:22