By Denis Sheehan MIH: What diversity, equality, and inclusion means to a charity working within the Hospitality industry.
The ideas of justice and fairness are deeply rooted, as is our moral responsibility towards building fairer and more inclusive workplaces. We are now at a point where diversity, equality, and inclusion are becoming recognised as both important and valued. But what do these values mean to the UK’s Hospitality industry?
Diversity is what makes each person different and means respecting visible and non-visible differences. Equality means treating people fairly and providing equal opportunities. Inclusion means valuing diversity, broadening access, promoting equality, and empowering people to be themselves.
Diversity, equality, and inclusion are so important, especially when considering the experiences of those who are most marginalised, face injustice, inequality, and barriers, because of who they are and where they are from. This is especially true for people dealing with complex disadvantages such as learning disabilities or mental health issues, which don’t have simple solutions. Too often people with learning disabilities are ignored, overlooked, and marginalised.
- 22% of working age people (16-64) have a disability.
- 42% of disabled people are economically inactive.
- Disabled workers earn on average almost £2/hr. less than non-disabled counterparts, illustrating the inequality of difference occurring across industries.
Bournemouth based disability training charity The CRUMBS Project (Crumbs), has been recognised at the Springboard Awards for Excellence 2023, winning in both the Diversity, Equality and Inclusion, and the Disability Confidence categories. Working within the UK’s Hospitality industry, the charity promotes education and social inclusion of adults with disabilities or mental health issues.
By providing professional hospitality and catering training and tailored support to around 30 people a year, the charity helps these disadvantaged adults to become more independent and develop skills for employment within the industry. Over 90% of Crumbs’ trainees move into work with local hospitality employers in Dorset at the end of their training programmes.
As a diversity, equality, and inclusion role model, the charity gained Disability Confident Leader status at the beginning of 2023. Recognising and promoting the value people with disabilities bring to an organisation, Crumbs’ own staff team has over 50% of people with disabilities, most who have been trained at Crumbs. The charity is actively working with Hospitality organisations, including BaxterStorey and Rick Stein Restaurants, to promote inclusion and encourage their own disability confidence journeys.
The Springboard Awards for Excellence mission is to promote the Hospitality industry, reduce unemployment and alleviate poverty. The Crumbs’ ethos of inclusion means that wherever possible trainees join the charity’s staff team members at external events such as the Springboard Awards for Excellence. The event this year was at East Wintergarden in Canary Wharf, London where Crumbs Trainee Richard, who is neurodiverse with a reduced brain function, attended. He was alongside; Professor Peter A. Jones, Chair of The CRUMBS Project, Ursula Boardman, Head of Centre and Lee Whalley, Head of Operations. For Richard, this was an opportunity to experience a formal black-tie event in the capital, representing the charity and all the trainees.
Richard said: “I liked going onto the stage to get the trophies. It was fun. I enjoyed being on table 28. I liked going on the underground trains and the black cab. I didn’t like the peas and cold potatoes.”
The impact of receiving industry awards goes beyond the recognition of the charity’s diversity, equality, and inclusion values and ethos. For Crumbs’ Trainees like David and Dennis, it helps to motivate them in their training with the charity, and their aspirations for careers within the Hospitality industry.
For trainee Dennis who has learning disabilities and cerebral palsy that impacts his coordination and memory, Crumbs provides a wide variety of training that develops his professional and personal skills, his maturity, and ability to cope with life’s challenges. Crumbs’ approach to bespoke, practical professional learning and supporting the trainee’s individual needs, is one of the reasons behind the increasing recognition of the value of the Crumbs approach in creating opportunity and inclusion. The Springboard Awards for Excellence is testament to this.
Dennis said: “Crumbs is a really inclusive place. I feel part of a team. I get the chance to try new things and have a choice about what I learn. If we have a new recipe, I’m allowed to try it out on my own and see if I can do it by myself but ask for help if needed.”
Crumbs’ Trainee David has a learning disability which means he struggles with concentration and impulses. Training at Crumbs enables him to develop his cookery and baking skills, including practising following recipe sequences and timings to help to overcome his difficulty. Being in a supportive and inclusive environment at Crumbs also helps David to feel more confident about his abilities as he prepares to move onto employment.
David said: “I’m happy that I get included in everything at Crumbs, I’m limited to opportunities because of my disability. This environment and the people here make me feel relaxed.”
Professor Peter A. Jones, Chair of The CRUMBS Project added: “Crumbs strive to both create and promote working environments within the Hospitality industry where every person can feel safe and be themselves. Crumbs’ trainees are not only encouraged to learn professional skills but also to speak up about the things that matter to them and develop their own voices for life and work.”
Support for the charity’s work and promotion of inclusion within the wider Hospitality industry and society also came from Sodexo, sponsors of the Disability Confidence Award.
Raj Jones, Head of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion at Sodexo UK & Ireland said: “Sodexo is thrilled to sponsor the Disability Confidence Award and extend our warmest congratulations to The CRUMBS Project for their well-deserved win and valuable contribution to the hospitality sector. Inclusivity is key to our values and as a Disability Confident Leader, we are delighted to support other organisations in their commitment to the recruitment, engagement, and development of people with disabilities.”
This support extended to CH&CO, sponsors of the Diversity, Equality & Inclusion category of the Springboard Awards for Excellence 2023.
Bill Toner, CEO of CH&Co said: “Huge congratulations to The CRUMBS Project for winning the Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion Award. The hospitality industry is incredibly diverse and offers opportunities for people of all backgrounds and abilities, creating supportive, inquisitive environments that are always open to learning and change. The CRUMBS Project is a fine example of this, providing training and life skills for adults with a range of disabilities, helping them to establish rewarding careers within hospitality. A most deserved winner.”
For more information about the work of The CRUMBS Project visit www.crumbs.org.uk