Prison inmates to receive training for food and beverage sector, and help with securing jobs
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One of the winning teams of the Yellow Ribbon Culinary Competition with their dish, a teriyaki Hawaiian burger.
PHOTO: SINGAPORE PRISON SERVICE
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SINGAPORE - A new initiative being rolled out for prison inmates will see them receiving training for roles in the food and beverage (F&B) sector, and help to secure jobs after their release.
Yellow Ribbon Singapore, a statutory board under the Ministry of Home Affairs, said on Thursday that it is aiming to start with 700 inmates.
It added that it will work closely with trade associations and employers to facilitate the former offenders’ recruitment after their release, including options for traineeships or attachments.
“Like all Singaporeans, these ex-offenders will be able to deepen their skills while building a career,” the ministry said in a statement.
The initiative was announced on the final day of the Yellow Ribbon Culinary Competition, which was organised together with the Singapore Chefs’ Association and HCSA Academy Culinary Training Centre.
A total of 27 inmates and alumni from the culinary training centre showed off their skills at the event, which was held at The Changi Tearoom, located within Changi Prison Complex.
Aside from being a showcase of culinary skills, the competition was also held to raise awareness about the relevant work programmes and strengthen the relationship between inmates and their families through food, said Yellow Ribbon Singapore.
The inmates had to curate a three-course meal using plant-based ingredients sponsored by Monde Nissin Singapore for their families.
John (not his real name), who took part in the competition, said that he developed an interest in F&B because his parents used to run a restaurant and hawker business.
The 36-year-old took F&B courses in prison during his second incarceration. This earned him a Nitec qualification in culinary and he found employment as an assistant chef at various establishments after his release.
But he got into trouble again. John, who is serving a three-year jail sentence for drug-related offences, was imprisoned for the sixth time in December 2022.
In 2023, he signed up for the competition to refine his culinary skills, and is hoping to leverage his years of experience and knowledge in the F&B sector to secure a stable career and reintegrate into society.
A participant preparing a dish during the Yellow Ribbon Culinary Competition.
PHOTO: SINGAPORE PRISON SERVICE
Seven alumni from HCSA Academy, who are former offenders with a Workforce Skills Qualifications Higher Certificate in Food Services (Culinary Arts), aided each team.
Family members of the participants were invited to the event and were served by the inmates.
Yellow Ribbon Singapore said dishes by the top three teams will be adopted by Kitchen Haus Group as part of their catering menu.
This year’s winners include a squid appetiser and a teriyaki Hawaiian burger.
At the event on Thursday, Yellow Ribbon Singapore announced a $220,000 pledge for a Grow Movement programme that will see trade associations and employers co-sponsor career development courses and qualifications for former offenders who perform well on the job and demonstrate potential to grow.
Yellow Ribbon Singapore said it will work closely with trade associations and employers to facilitate former offenders’ recruitment into the relevant industries after their release, including options for traineeships or attachments.
