From Young Chef of the Year to Belmarsh | Natty Can Cook

This week Zak and Jules welcome lifelong chef Nathaniel Mortley AKA Natty Can Cook to the Life After Prison couch. Natty shares his experiences of working in some of London’s most high-end restaurants and how the environment there contributed to him going to prison. He also speaks about how seeing people excel while he was inside inspired him to start planning his future for when he was released. Now that he’s out, he is on an incredible journey to take Caribbean cuisine to the heights of the culinary world.

This podcast is also available as a video – just search Life After Prison on YouTube.

Useful organisations:  

• Social Pantry (London) – A catering company with a mission to employ and train ex-offenders in the culinary arts. They offer structured, supportive job placements for people with a criminal record, helping them build valuable skills and establish a work history in catering and hospitality. https://socialpantry.co.uk/
• Fat Macy's (London) – A social enterprise that provides training in cooking and event catering for people living in temporary housing or hostels, including those with past criminal records. They give participants culinary experience and help them save towards long-term housing. https://www.fatmacys.org/
• Sixteen Community Café (Bristol) – Part of the charity Second Step, this community café provides training and support for people with mental health issues or a criminal background. They offer a safe, supportive space for participants to gain experience in a working kitchen and hospitality. https://www.16cafe.co.uk/
• Social Bite (Edinburgh and Glasgow) – This social enterprise tackles homelessness by offering job opportunities and training in their cafes. They employ people with previous convictions or homelessness, helping them gain experience in food preparation and service in a welcoming environment. https://www.social-bite.co.uk/
• Freedom Bakery (Glasgow) – This artisanal bakery works with individuals in and leaving prison, offering training in baking and an opportunity to work in a structured, supportive environment. They focus on building employable skills and have strong connections within the hospitality industry for job placement. https://www.freedombakery.org/

Contact us:  

If anything you’ve heard in this podcast has inspired you to make a positive change in your life, or you’d just like to get in touch, please contact us.  

💬 Socials: @afterprisonpod on Instagram and X, @lifeafterprison on TikTok  

📧 Email: [e-mail]  

✉️ Write: Life After Prison, National Prison Radio, HMP Brixton, London SW2 5XF  

🖥️ Website: https://lifeafterprisonpod.com/ 

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