[su_accordion][su_spoiler title=”Are you a legally recognised charity?”]

CSSG is a registered and recognised charity in both the United Kingdom and India.

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[su_accordion][su_spoiler title=”Who are the key players in CSSG?”]

At CSSG, we have four levels of management in place, the Board, the Advisory Committee, Strategic Advisers and Facilitation Partners.

The Board takes on our day to day running, while the Advisory Committee’s role consists of undertaking a guiding role, giving support by way of intellectual currency, time, and social capital.

The Board is comprised of:
– Anand Kapoor (President)
– Aditi Kapoor (Vice President)
– Chhavi Chadha (Treasurer)
– Irene Simon (Secretary)
– Anamika  Singh (Board Member)
– Pitmaber Sahni (Board Member)
– Avanti  Mathur (Board Member)
– Shreya Shah (Board Member)
– Ruchi Sibal (Honorary Board Member)

The advisory committee consists of :

– Peter D’Ascoli
– Puneeta Chadha
– Seema Chandra
– Emmanuel Balayer
– Manish Mehrotra
– Renu Modi
– Raj Nanda
– Hemant Sagar

Strategic Advisors:
– Ruby Adam (UK)
– William Eger (USA)
– Devdatta Das (INDIA)
– Luis Aguilar Esponda (MEXICO)
– Alexandra Hotter (AUSTRIA)
– Parmod Kapoor (INDIA)
– Florence Mundler (FRANCE)
– Andrew Sills (UK)
– Ana Raquel Villanueva (INDIA/HONDURAS/USA)
– Lucile Walter (INDIA/FRANCE)

See About Us for more information

Strategic Partners:
-Amtek (IND)
-A New Direction (UK)
-Centre For Equity and Inclusion (IND)
-Edible School Yard Project (IND)
-Farm Love (IND)
-Flow (IND)
-Maitri (IND)
-Rainbow Homes (IND)
-Sheroes (IND)
-Tante Marie (UK)
-Unite4: Good (IND / USA)

See Partners for more information
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[su_accordion][su_spoiler title=”Are you audited? Who audits?”]

We have regular audits conducted by D.R.Anthwal and Associates. The annual management accounts are prepared by Bhatt Anil & Associates who also prepare the Indian Government tax returns and the submitted year end audited accounts for CSSG. Furthermore CSSG also has an independent external financial advisor who ensures international protocol is met.[/su_spoiler]

[su_accordion][su_spoiler title=”Do you have a breakdown for how raised funds are spent?”]

100% of our donations and resources raised through events are strictly used for the support of the young men and women in our charity’s care. As of now, we are a small non-profit with all labour (and space) volunteered so we have very low overhead costs. For example, the funds  raised at the 2015 Year of Woman Summit went towards funding a hospitality course for fifty  individuals as well as various other planned initiatives. Previous funds have gone to support the young men and women during their mentorships.

Creative Services Support Group has been running for three years with a surplus of funds at the end of each financial year. The surplus funds (deemed unrestricted funds) are used for the charity’s specific aims and objectives.

The last three years has seen financial growth as relationships with the major funders and donors has been developed. Operating successful for three years with a balance of funds will allow the charity to apply for overseas grant funding which is vital to the successful development of CSSG. In addition to building relationships with its donors, the fundraising events have enabled the charity to gain public awareness and grow its international branding.
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[su_accordion][su_spoiler title=”What has CSSG achieved in the past few years?”]

CSSG has seen a number of success stories since the commencement of its activities.

Since inception, we have successfully educated 450 young men and women in gender sensitivity, 53 young underprivileged girls as chefs and numerous other young men and women.

See CSSG Stories for more information[/su_spoiler]

[su_accordion][su_spoiler title=”What is Feeding Hearts?”]

Feeding Hearts is the awareness unit of CSSG: it develops awareness, cultivates talent and feeds young minds, through CSSG’s programmes and activities.Our initiative Feeding Hearts develops awareness, cultivates talent and feeds young minds. The awareness feeds kindered hearts inspiring them to reach out to the youth and support them through CSSG’s programmes and activities. [/su_spoiler]

[su_accordion][su_spoiler title=”What does CSSG have planned for the future?”]

In 2015, the focus is was set on women in the creative sectors, aiming to give young women from underprivileged backgrounds a voice and opportunity.

CSSG decided in 2016 to focus on education and youth empowerment, while opening the existing programmes to underprivileged boys.

The 2015 initiative “40 girls to 40 Chefs’, combining training and job placements in the culinary trades, gains new momentum by becoming ‘200 Youths to 200 Chefs’. At the same time, the new major focus of the programme ‘And Still I Rise’, which consists in workshops and an art exhibition regarding gender stereotypes, is the involvement of young boys and famous male personalities.

2016 will also be marked by the launch of a new major project, following the line of CSSG’s actions in favor of education and the gastronomic sector in the broad sense: the ‘Edible Education’ project will combine access to proper nutrition with garden-based education. It will educate children on healthy nutrition and will provide an opportunity to underprivileged youth to have access to edible and ethically grown food.

Over the long term, CSSG’s ultimate mission is to provide a school of excellence to those in need of assistance in order to give them the opportunity to receive the best quality vocational training.

See Feeding Hearts for more information[/su_spoiler]

[su_accordion][su_spoiler title=”Why do you do such big high profile events?”] Our charity uses high profile events for fundraising, as we believe that it is more beneficial to provide people with a one-off experience in exchange for their donations and support rather than just asking people for money. With the help of our unique network with international celebrities we are able to create unmatched and memorable events, which are then sold off to corporates for donations. In the past two years, we had the opportunity to get the support of various Michelin chefs to achieve these unique events – offering their service for free – and thereby helping us to raise funds for the charity.

This approach has proven to be successful, as it creates opportunities to build networks and raise awareness whilst simultaneously generating money for the charity. Creating memorable events and having people enjoy themselves also brings in more ‘good-will’ and increases donations long term.[/su_spoiler]

[su_accordion][su_spoiler title=”Aren’t there charities out there doing the same thing? What makes CSSG different?”]

India has many organizations ranging from for-profits which concentrate on careers such as hairdressing, electricians, and machinists to non-profits that prepare young people for careers through the use of traditional Indian handicrafts or performance arts, to perpetuate India’s rich cultural heritage. These organizations are very focused on preparing youth to master a narrow skill set.

CSSG’s approach is complementary with the work of other organizations. Our specificity is our upstream work. We seek to provide more than just the technical knowledge but also a creative understanding to rethink and reinvent the youth’s potential.

CSSG focuses on the creative industries. The opportunities are cultural, social and economic. We believe that creativity leads to change and intend to use the creative sectors to induce essential changes in societies and communities.

CSSG provides guidance to young adults who aren’t on traditional career paths. The charity’s focus lies on matching disadvantaged youths with high quality jobs (that are intrinsically interesting). To do so, CSSG works with a youth to find out their interests, train them in the relevant skills, pair them with a likeminded mentor and provide them with a career opportunity.

Moreover, CSSG’s actions are centralized on young people from underprivileged backgrounds, coming from extreme poverty and aged at least 18 years. These young men and women are too old for many non-profits but too young to have settled into a career. CSSG’s work begins where the other charities’ work stops: in those difficult transition years between childhood and adulthood.

Download Independent Study for more information[/su_spoiler]

[su_accordion][su_spoiler title=”Is there really a need for vocational training in India?”]

There is an important need for vocational training in India.

Giving the next generation the necessary education is one of the most important challenges in India. More than half of India’s population, 1.2 billion, is under the age of twenty-five. Over one million young adults enter the workforce each month – and it will continue for the next two decades. The government estimates that 500 million young people must be trained by 2022.

The private sector understands that students, even those who excelled in school, need additional training, while marginalized young people find it almost impossible to access skill-based training or the qualifications needed for a good job.

We seek to improve the quality of the workforce both by training new employees and putting them in contact with potential employers. Add to this, there are few opportunities for underprivileged youth in India. The underprivileged young individuals receive inadequate support and need help to have access to vocational training and mentorship.

Download Independent Study for more information[/su_spoiler]

[su_accordion][su_spoiler title=”Why focus on the creative sectors?”]

At Creative Services Support Group we want to open the way to self-reflection, invention, and creative skills.

Every sector be it heavy industry or manufacturing is nowadays influenced by the creative sectors.Furthermore, creativity has been proven to be a source of growth. Richard Florida, an American urban-studies theorist, adds that “Not only do creative workers earn much more, on average, than the large number of people who do low-end service work or rote manufacturing; they also get to do more enjoyable work and they contribute more by adding creative value”.

A 2010 United Nations report argues that, especially in developing countries, the creative economy fundamentally adds to growth and prosperity: “Adequately nurtured, creativity fuels culture, infuses a human-centered development and constitutes the key ingredient for job creation, innovation and trade while contributing to social inclusion, cultural diversity and environmental sustainability”.Lastly, employment in the creative sectors requires less financial investment than formal academic studies. Training be done on the job whilst simultaneously making an instant contribution to employers, making the creative sectors more accessible for the underprivileged.

By providing opportunities in the creative sectors, CSSG concentrates on a large group of men and women whose talents have never been considered. Everyone cannot become a lawyer or a doctor, fortunately other alternatives exist. Approximately 10% of the underprivileged youth can reach outstanding positions, 40% find their way and get traditional jobs, CSSG focuses on the remaining 50%.

The opportunities are from a cultural, social , and economic point of view.

CSSG commissioned an independent study to explore this in depth question.

Download Independent Study for more information[/su_spoiler]

[su_accordion][su_spoiler title=”Why focus on the food industry in particular?”]

As an example within the creative sectors, CSSG focus on the hospitality and food industry, which is the largest and most dynamic sector within the economy, sustaining its growth. Employment generation is guaranteed in this sector.

A study conducted in 2015 by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) indicates that “ the food and beverage service industry is one of the most vibrant service industries within India with over 25% yearly growth (…) worth INR 2,04,438 crore and expected to reach INR 3,80,000 crore by 2017. (…) The food and beverage industry has been at the forefront of attracting investments into India”.

The Indian food industry has experienced rapid growth since 2009, with a 4-year CAGR of 12,12% contributing to the country’s growth (Source: Euromonitor International, July 2014).

While the restaurant sector is rapidly growing, it is suffering from a shortage of skilled labor force.According to the FICCI, “gross annual demand of employees in the hospitality sector had crossed 500,000 in 2009 – 10 and is likely to grow to almost 920,000 in 2021-22”. The FICC estimates that only 9 to 12% of the manpower is trained for the need of the hospitality industry, a difficulty that worsens with the growth of the sector.

The objective of CSSG’s initiative is to reduce the skill gap that has affected the hospitality and food industry, while ensuring that the economic benefits of this growing sector reaches the poor, offering qualifications to ensure them a bright future.

Download Independent Study for more information[/su_spoiler]

[su_accordion][su_spoiler title=”Shouldn’t we be focused on providing a good traditional education?”]

A good traditional education is a necessary part of meaningful employment, and we encourage the youth we work with to continue their schooling, no matter what level they are at. Still traditional education does not work for all learners, and it does not necessarily prepare them for a career. We strive to provide young adults with the long-term ability to think creatively and the skills needed to earn gainful employment in the short-term. In doing so, we don’t seek to replace but instead to supplement the traditional education system in a way that maximizes its efficacy on the young people we serve.

There is no doubt that there is a shortage of employable workers in India. According to the 2011 Talent Shortage Survey by Manpower, a human resources company, nearly 70 percent of Indian employers had trouble hiring staff members. Simultaneously, according to the International Labor Organization, many youth “leave school or university without skills that are demanded by employers”.

Download Independent Study for more information[/su_spoiler]

[su_accordion][su_spoiler title=”How do you place the young men and women?”]We follow a strict procedure to ensure that the young men and women we work with receive the best opportunities open to them.

See Our Approach for more information[/su_spoiler]