Ken Sharp, owner of Boat House Dining and The Salty Dog Hotel & Bistro in Bangor, has been appointed as an Ambassador of The Burnt Chef Project.
In a recent survey, eight out of 10 hospitality professionals reported at least one mental health issue during their career and almost half of those interviewed also said they do not feel comfortable talking to colleagues about their health concerns.
Ken has witnessed first hand how mental health has impacted his business, his staff and how the past two years have done nothing but compound the situation some have found themselves in. He is therefore honoured to have been appointed as an Ambassador of The Burnt Chef Project to help tackle and eradicate mental health stigma within the hospitality industry once and for all, by burning it away and making the profession healthier and more sustainable.
The Burnt Chef Project
Set up in May 2019, The Burnt Chef Project was founded by businessman Kris Hall as he was all too aware of the challenges people in hospitality were facing. Prior to the pandemic, margins were already slim, staff were working long and anti-social hours and the pressures to perform were all too prevalent.
He found that hospitality professionals had difficulty discussing the state of their mental health or seeking support from their peers and employers. He believes that it’s important that although mental health can’t be seen that it should be regularly discussed and policies reviewed, with this as the new definition of a ‘badge of honour’.
Speaking of his appointment, Ken Sharp said: “It’s an honour to be appointed The Burnt Chef Project Ambassador. I am committed to working with my peers to burn away the stigma associated with mental health in our industry and ultimately save lives.
“Sadly I have experienced firsthand the horror of team members dying, the consequences of mental health issues in others and I, too, have been diagnosed with anxiety and depression as I struggled to keep the businesses going during Covid. From all these challenges, I am acutely aware of the battle people face on a daily basis.
“I believe it is vitally important as the industry operates in one of the most difficult of trading times I have witnessed and tries to recover from the impact of the pandemic, that our business owners, management teams and employees are all equipped with the tools to open up conversations and burn away the struggle people find themselves in.
“I would urge anyone who may be reading this and feeling they may need help with their mental health to seek the help they deserve and not suffer in silence.”
Kris Hall, Founder of The Burnt Chef Project, said: “I launched The Burnt Chef Project with the sole intention of eradicating mental health stigma within hospitality and it is a privilege to welcome Ken as an Ambassador. Ken shares our values and ethos in saving lives and making our industry a happy place to build a career.”
The Burnt Chef Project provides members with free access to tools and support services for implementing plans to tackle mental health in their hospitality businesses.
By providing these services, the non-profit is challenging the stigma of mental health whilst beginning to create a culture of care and compassion which will improve recruitment opportunities and also reduce staff turnover rates.
If you would like further information on The Burnt Chef Project, please visit: www.theburntchefproject.com.
