GUSTO ITALIAN'S Charity Partnerships

During September and October, we’re inviting our guests to join us in supporting a cause close to our hearts. A discretionary £1 donation will be added to each bill, with all proceeds going to Hospitality Action, a charity that provides vital support to those in the hospitality industry facing mental or physical health challenges.

At Gusto Italian, we’re deeply committed to the well-being of our team members, ensuring they have access to the help, advice, and support they need in difficult times. As part of this, we utilise the support Hospitality Action provides by offering all our team members access to their services.

This initiative is particularly meaningful to us as we remember our colleague, Bruna Anjos, who passed away in June 2024 at the age of 22. Bruna was a cherished member of our Leeds restaurant team, and we aim to honour her memory through this fundraising effort.

We know that many individuals across our business have struggled with their own mental health or been affected by their friend & families mental wellbeing. It’s so important that we offer this support to any team member in need, at any time.

Jade Costello was a wonderful friend and a valued member of our Gusto Italian family.

Working as our Head of People Jade inspired everyone she met with her incredible zest for life.

Only in her 30’s, Jade was diagnosed with terminal cancer and sadly passed away in June 2022.

During her treatment, Jade met many people who were supported by Young Lives vs cancer. Jade chose this as our partner charity to donate through the Tim Bacon Foundation.

Jade is greatly missed and in her honour, we continue to support this brilliant cause.

Since we began our partnership in 2022 we’ve run various events and raised a total to date of £100,000.

About Young Lives vs. Cancer

We are proud to partner with the Together Trust, a charity dedicated to championing and caring for people with disabilities, autism and complex health needs.

Our comprehensive 8-week training course for students of Inscape House School begins with a personalised interview and progresses to hands-on experience in a restaurant setting, where participants learn essential skills.

Starting with an immersive introduction day at their school, students rotate through various departments, including floor service, kitchen operations, and bar duties. From Pizza Making Day to Pasta Making Day and Bar Day, each week offers unique learning opportunities culminating in Week 8, where participants have the chance to showcase their skills by serving friends and family.

Inspired by his own journey at Gusto Italian, from apprenticeship to Group Training Manager, Mikey, is committed to paying it forward. This program not only equips participants with valuable qualifications but also offers real-world employment opportunities, as evidenced by our ongoing partnership over the past 2 years and the recent part-time position extended to one of our students at our Cheadle Hulme kitchen.

We’re excited to continue this journey together, building brighter futures one step at a time.

About Together Trust

We are proud to partner with Springboard, a charity build to support the hospitality, leisure, and tourism industry and those seeking employment within it.

Gusto Italian’s Springboard program includes hands on work placements where trainees gain invaluable real world experience within our restaurants. Aspiring trainees can look forward to engaging pizza making experiences, guided by our expert pizzaiolos, that hone their skills and passion for hospitality.

We have also supported a variety of educational & professional development workshops, covering a range of topics from essential hospitality skills to interview techniques, plus, career talks from our Talent Manager to provide insights into diverse career paths not just within Gusto Italian, but in the entire hospitality sector. Additionally, we host industry tours, giving trainees a behind-the-scenes look at restaurant operations and the workings of the hospitality industry.

We are delighted that our Talent Manager, Kyle Basnett, was the winner of the Ambassador of the Year Award at Springboard’s Awards for Excellence 2024. In a quote from Springboard at the awards ceremony they said:

“Kyle has been absolutely instrumental to the success of our programmes in the Midlands and beyond. From work placement opportunities to pizza making experiences for the programme trainees, workshops for young people, career talks, mock interviews, and industry tours.”

We look forward to continuing our relationship with Springboard and their Employability Team in 2025 and beyond.

The Tim Bacon Foundation was established in 2017 in memory of Tim Bacon.

Tim was a vibrant and inspiring change-maker for Manchester’s restaurant scene and the co-founder of Gusto Italian alongside his business partner Jeremy Roberts. Following Tim’s passing from cancer in April 2016, Tim Bacon Foundation was set up to ensure his inspiring story was not forgotten and to support charities for people living with Cancer.

We’d like to thank the Tim Bacon Foundation for the work they do to facilitate our fundraising efforts to ensure they go to the intended cause.