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This teenager spent his early life in care and homeless, now he's been given the break of his life
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Manchester Evening News
Apr 17, 2016, 8:44:49 AM4/17/16
to
A teenager who spent most of his childhood in care and then nine months
homeless has been given the break of his life by a restaurant boss.
Joe Davitt, was in foster care from the age of nine to 16 and for a while was
later on the streets.
But he impressed the owner and head chef at The Dock Yard in Salford Quays so
much they gave him a job - after an just an hour.
Now Joe, 19, is working as a trainee chef at the popular bar and restaurant.
Simon Pendrigh 
Joe Davitt with Head Chef Carl Fraenkl-Rietti
Joe said: "An opportunity like this will change my life forever."
Noel Goulding, a former QE2 chef, from Whitefield, who has cooked for the
Queen and former American President Ronald Regan, was the first to spot Joe's
potential.
Joe said: "Social services suggested I should work with Noel at Broughton
Trust in Salford once a week, preparing meals for homeless people, refugees,
and the elderly.
"He had a word with the owner of The Dock Yard and Damson restaurant at
Salford Quays, Steve Pilling. He let me work in the kitchen for an hour. I was
introduced to the head chef, Lee Fannon. I was chopping carrots and prepping
chicken wings."
Lee and Steve were so impressed they gave Joe a job and he started last week
working five days a week.
Simon Pendrigh 
Joe with Steve Pilling and Head Chef Carl Fraenkl-Rietti
Joe said: "Ever since I was eleven and doing food technology at school I had
this dream of being a chef."
But he hit rock bottom after trying to live independently after leaving his
foster parents.
"I ended up homeless for nine months. Social services found me somewhere then
when that broke down I ended up in an abandoned house next to the Dutton Arms
in Trafford.
"This is the first job I have ever had. Being allowed to work in the kitchen
at The Dock Yard has opened so many doors. My ambition is to one day own my
own restaurant."
Joe has been helped by the council to find his own flat in Walkden, and Noel
got him a reconditioned bike from the charity, Thomas, to cycle to and from
work.
Simon Pendrigh 
Joe Davitt
Steve said: "When we see a young man like Joe like we give them a test as a
stepping stone. He will end up as a trainee at Damson.
"We just hope that other things in his life don't interfere and we will have a
pastoral role in that sense.
"When he first appeared he was scruffy when we first me him now he turns up on
time, clean - it's a positive sign."
Joe will work at the restaurant and attend Salford City College once a week to
gain a qualification in catering.
Simon Pendrigh 
Joe Davitt with Head Chef Carl Fraenkl-Rietti
Mr Pilling said: "I was born in a terraced house in Droylsden with an outside
loo and a tin bath in front of the fire.
"I wasn't very bright at school, if I had my time over again I might work
harder in terms of the academic side of things, but, having said that, no-
one's happier than I am now.
Mr Pilling, who once worked 90-hour weeks, advised students to work hard,
speak to other people, ask for help and persevere.
He added: "I was impressed with the students' focus, and they had a clear idea
of what they wanted to achieve, which is quite unusual at that age - it was
very rewarding."
"Life throws up these interesting twists and turns but when you're a kid you
might not see it, you tend to have tunnel vision and it's hard to know what
you want to do.
"But If you stick at something and you enjoy it you will get on in life.
homeless has been given the break of his life by a restaurant boss.
Joe Davitt, was in foster care from the age of nine to 16 and for a while was
later on the streets.
But he impressed the owner and head chef at The Dock Yard in Salford Quays so
much they gave him a job - after an just an hour.
Now Joe, 19, is working as a trainee chef at the popular bar and restaurant.
Simon Pendrigh 
Joe Davitt with Head Chef Carl Fraenkl-Rietti
Joe said: "An opportunity like this will change my life forever."
Noel Goulding, a former QE2 chef, from Whitefield, who has cooked for the
Queen and former American President Ronald Regan, was the first to spot Joe's
potential.
Joe said: "Social services suggested I should work with Noel at Broughton
Trust in Salford once a week, preparing meals for homeless people, refugees,
and the elderly.
"He had a word with the owner of The Dock Yard and Damson restaurant at
Salford Quays, Steve Pilling. He let me work in the kitchen for an hour. I was
introduced to the head chef, Lee Fannon. I was chopping carrots and prepping
chicken wings."
Lee and Steve were so impressed they gave Joe a job and he started last week
working five days a week.
Simon Pendrigh 
Joe with Steve Pilling and Head Chef Carl Fraenkl-Rietti
Joe said: "Ever since I was eleven and doing food technology at school I had
this dream of being a chef."
But he hit rock bottom after trying to live independently after leaving his
foster parents.
"I ended up homeless for nine months. Social services found me somewhere then
when that broke down I ended up in an abandoned house next to the Dutton Arms
in Trafford.
"This is the first job I have ever had. Being allowed to work in the kitchen
at The Dock Yard has opened so many doors. My ambition is to one day own my
own restaurant."
Joe has been helped by the council to find his own flat in Walkden, and Noel
got him a reconditioned bike from the charity, Thomas, to cycle to and from
work.
Simon Pendrigh 
Joe Davitt
Steve said: "When we see a young man like Joe like we give them a test as a
stepping stone. He will end up as a trainee at Damson.
"We just hope that other things in his life don't interfere and we will have a
pastoral role in that sense.
"When he first appeared he was scruffy when we first me him now he turns up on
time, clean - it's a positive sign."
Joe will work at the restaurant and attend Salford City College once a week to
gain a qualification in catering.
Simon Pendrigh 
Joe Davitt with Head Chef Carl Fraenkl-Rietti
Mr Pilling said: "I was born in a terraced house in Droylsden with an outside
loo and a tin bath in front of the fire.
"I wasn't very bright at school, if I had my time over again I might work
harder in terms of the academic side of things, but, having said that, no-
one's happier than I am now.
Mr Pilling, who once worked 90-hour weeks, advised students to work hard,
speak to other people, ask for help and persevere.
He added: "I was impressed with the students' focus, and they had a clear idea
of what they wanted to achieve, which is quite unusual at that age - it was
very rewarding."
"Life throws up these interesting twists and turns but when you're a kid you
might not see it, you tend to have tunnel vision and it's hard to know what
you want to do.
"But If you stick at something and you enjoy it you will get on in life.
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