Food has always been a passion for Emmanuel. His fascination with cooking is so strong, that playing football and going to the gym have become secondary priorities. Being a student at a Special Educational Needs school has never stopped Emmanuel from pursuing his dreams of getting into the world of food and he is currently taking the ‘Introduction to Hospitality in Food Technology’ course. However, there weren’t many opportunities for Emmanuel to practise, which is difficult for an aspiring young chef.

His first culinary breakthrough came from a visit to the London Clinic’s kitchen, which was organised by The Springboard Charity. The week after his visit, Emmanuel became the first chosen student to participate in a work experience placement, where he got to work alongside the chefs. The team were so impressed with Emmanuel’s hard work and confidence, they invited him to partner with Head Chef Paul to participate in the Hotel, Restaurant and Catering Show, where they won a silver award!

Although the Covid-19 pandemic has brought a significant amount of restrictions and uncertainty into the world, Emmanuel is keeping in touch with the Head Chef Paul, where they discuss their future competition wins. He is also looking to get a part-time job at the London Clinic and to work alongside Paul again. His future goal is to open a restaurant of his own, where he can bring joy to people through his cooking.

The team at Oak Lodge School is incredibly grateful for the support they have received from The Springboard Charity so far and are looking to introduce more students to work experience in the future.