In 2002 Jamie Oliver set up a restaurant which would
put a training programme for disadvantaged young people right at its heart.

Says Jamie: “Having not been the brightest banana in the bunch myself, I realised that my biggest weapon in life was the determination, enthusiasm, hands-on and "actions speak louder than words" approach my father taught me, and I wanted to get this across to others, especially those interested in food.”

Through the magic of television millions of people all over the planet have watched the highs and lows, the traumas, and the eventual triumph, as Fifteen London opened for business to great acclaim. We have made loads of mistakes over the last few years but we have learned from them and hope we are getting better and better at the really tricky job of balancing the needs of a busy high profile restaurant with those of our young trainees.

Fifteen London is now one of London’s most popular and successful. The Fifteen Foundation is fired by Jamie’s vision for supporting young people and is independent of him with its own board of trustees and staff team. Jamie remains close to Fifteen and the young people and uses his amazing energy and popularity to help us drive our work forward.

Since opening in London, the Fifteen Family has grown to include Fifteen Amsterdam, Fifteen Cornwall and now Fifteen Melbourne.  Each location works hard to address the needs and issues that are relevant to local young people, while learning from the International experience of the wider Fifteen Family.

Melbourne is home to the newest restaurant in the Fifteen ‘family’. Melbourne local, Tobie Puttock is the Executive Head Chef at Fifteen Melbourne.  Having spent 2 ½ years working with Jamie at Fifteen London, Tobie has come home to share the Fifteen opportunity with young Melbournians.

Tobies says: “Jamie gave me the opportunity to establish a Fifteen in Australia and I jumped at the opportunity to have a positive impact on the lives of young people in my own home town, how could I pass the chance to be part of something as special as Fifteen Melbourne."

For full information on the Fifteen program internationally go to: www.fifteenfoundation.org.uk