Young people have it tough these days: record youth unemployment, public service cuts across the board, exhausting tuition fees and house prices that exclude first time buyers until their mid thirties. 

But if that's how it is for those who have every advantage in life, spare a thought for those who have every disadvantage in life. Broken homes, underfunded estates, abuse and neglect driving those caught in its grip to an unchosen life of delinquency, unemployment and crime. Often, the only places where these people feel they belong is in London's gang culture. What options do they have to escape their circumstance?

It should be emphasised then that this is not about giving these people a second chance because they never really had a first chance, they were simply dealt the worst of hands to begin with. Their options are few, especially when employers have so many people after so few jobs. As in so much of their life, they're likely to find themselves once again at the bottom of the pile.

If employers do reach out, the employer themselves are in for hard work, a lot of hard work and probably little thanks, and life for most businesses in this climate already seems tough enough. And it's right here, this situation is on our doorstep, these are neighbours in our boroughs, and only by dint of luck, it's someone else and not you.

Galvin's Chance seeks to do something about it. They recognise both the tragic waste of young potential and the cost to society of abandoning these people to at best, a life of institutional benefits perpetuating the cycle, and at worst, one of crime. Accordingly, Galvin's Chance seeks to offer employment opportunities within the hospitality and service industry to people who would otherwise have no chance. It also offers real qualifications at Westminster Kingsway College. That combination of employment and qualifications lifts people out of their situation and gives them a meaningful prospect for sustainable employment in the industry dramatically changing their life prospects not only for themselves right now but their future family also.

In the words of the charity's founder Fred Sirieix:

"Galvin's Chance is a unique opportunity to make a difference and change someone's life for the better. The kids on the program learn about front of house and restaurants and go to school once a week to get an education. Most importantly however they learn about life skills, discipline, self belief and self confidence so they can realise their potential."

Situated in the Hilton Hotel on Park Lane, Galvin at Windows and Hilton in the Community offer employment opportunity to participants, encourage others to do likewise and ensure funding for the scheme. They can't do it alone though and so need all of our support.

You've heard the chat, you want to help, what can you do?

The primary fund raising event for Galvin's Chance is the annual Mayfair Park and Tower Race. Here, up to 150 individuals will run around the Serpentine in Hyde Park before scaling the 28 floors of the Park Lane Hilton to reach Galvin at Windows where they will enjoy a Pommery champagne breakfast.

All they ask is that each participant pays a £20 entry fee and commits to raising £250 of sponsorship. The date of this year's event is Friday 8th July with a start time of 8am. Full details can be found on the Mayfair Park and Tower Race website.

Do get involved, or if running isn't your thing (and it's not really ours to be honest), tell a friend perhaps, put it on facebook or send a Tweet. In doing so, you make a difference.

Need an extra incentive? First, you never know who you'll be running next to, or enjoying that Pommery champagne with. Michel Roux Junior is already confirmed to attend the 2011 event while sports stars Graeme Le Saux and Iwan Thomas have previously taken part. And of course there's Galvin's very own GM and TV star Fred Sirieix as well as Chris Galvin himself.

If that's not enough, we'll give you another incentive. Here at TheCriticalCouple we'll contribute to any participant who gets in touch with us and asks, £10 towards your £250 sponsorship requirement. It's as simple as that. You can register directly here.

If you don't run, you can always make a direct donation at www.galvinschance.co.uk or if you're involved in hospitality and service, maybe think about providing opportunities directly to people on the program by contacting Galvin's Chance.

Please do join us in supporting Galvin's Chance, they really do make an incredible difference.

In the first book, a boy after the sea: an untold story, Kevin Snook presented us with a book that satisfies on every level, so much so that it won the 'Best in the World' for the fish and seafood category at the 2010 Gourmand World Cookbook Awards. But behind the recipes and the stunning photography, the book has a more serious and soul wrenchingly sad origin, Kevin Snook lost his 19 year old son Dan as a consequence of sexual abuse and drug addiction. Determined to honour his memory while at the same time helping others experiencing pain and suffering, Kevin set up The Dan Snook Trust Foundation which aims to help troubled people between the age of 15 - 25 years who have been subject to sexual or substance abuse. The full proceeds of both the first and the second book go to support the foundation.

The book itself reads like a Who's Who of cooking with the foreward written by Heston Blumenthal who is the Honary Vice Chairman of the charity. Later in the book, Heston shares his recipe for his famous Sounds of the Sea dish that is served daily at The Fat Duck restaurant in Bray. Meanwhile, Bray neighbour Alain Roux of The Waterside Inn details a recipe for quenelles of pike. In total, twenty six chefs share recipes across over 200 pages of the first book making it a very special cookbook indeed. Separating each of the 'chef sections', there is an array of beautiful black and white pictures celebrating our oceans, rivers and life contained therein and short discussion pieces on the role and ambition of The Foundation.

a boy after the sea 2 continues in the same fashion with more of the world's most famous contributing recipes. Thomas Keller and Daniel Boulud are just two of the famous names you'll find here. The photography of both the food and the environment is world class and both books have a strong emphasis on the issues raised by over fishing. All recipes in the book focus on sustainable choices.

With Christmas just round the corner and many people wondering what to buy for friends and family, this book is an ideal choice. A beautiful coffee table book for those who like browsing amazing food and waterway pictures, and a world class cook book for those who prefer to spend their time in the kitchen. And while having this award winning book to enjoy in whatever way you see fit, every time you pick it up, you'll know that others too are benefiting from your purchase or gift.

Reading Kevin Snook's brief introduction in the book and his story at greater length on the Foundation website, one can't help but be moved to sympathy and compassion for a parent to lose a son in such a fashion. It leaves us to count our blessings and hope that we should never have to experience the same. We're also moved by Kevin's courage to pursue this project despite the fact it must constantly evoke memories of his own family's suffering. It leaves us more than happy to support his efforts; we hope you will too.

a boy after the sea 2 is now available in bookshops priced at £35. It can also be ordered through The Foundation website by clicking here. 

Amazon as always carry everything and more (click here). And if you don't own the original a boy after the sea, that of course is still available through all the above links.

At the end of the introduction to the first book, Kevin says that, 'if we can help and support just one troubled youngster through the difficult times that my son could not cope with, then we have succeeded'. We're sure they'll be able to do that and more. A stunning book, a great Christmas present and a truly worthy cause.

Beyond the book, http://www.dansnooktrustfoundation.com also carries details of how you can become more involved with The Foundation if you would like to do more.

Sundays can be filled with all sorts of 'quality problems'. Home cooking or restaurant, lamb or beef, Bordeaux or Burgundy? You know I'm sure. However, for many elderly people who live alone with little or no family, with limited means and limited mobility, there's no choice of what to do or what to eat. Many live on a diet of social isolation. That's where Contact the elderly come in and that's where we can all come in and make a difference. In their own words:

Contact the Elderly is a national charity and organises monthly Sunday afternoon tea parties for people over 75 who live alone with little or no support from family and friends.

One Sunday afternoon a month volunteers use their car to take older members to and from a volunteer host’s home for tea, cake and companionship. Our hosts take it in turn to welcome the small group of older people and volunteer drivers into their home for a few hours.

These Sunday afternoon tea parties are a lifeline of friendship bringing older people and volunteers together for an afternoon of stories, laughter and conversation.

Accordingly, this Sunday we welcomed to our home a small group of over 75s and their drivers. We laid on sandwiches, sausage rolls, pork pies, scotch eggs, scones, jam and clotted cream and cakes. And tea, lots and lots of tea. The seniors were lovely and the drivers were lovely. Everybody had a good time.

It was hard work of sorts (not really really) but touched us both that we could help make such a difference to a group of seniors who don't enjoy regular social contact or food treats or a day out anywhere near as much as they deserve to. We're proud to be associated with this charity, and if you need a little more of a push to get in touch with Contact the elderly then look at some of the happy faces in the picture below.

On leaving, each and every one thanked us so much for a great day out and really meant it, it was a wonderful thing and made our day as much as it did theirs. If you feel that you could be a driver or a tea party host, we're sure Contact the elderly would love to hear from you. Go on, make a difference. 

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