Troy Dennehy
MONEY FOR LIFE CHALLENGE TEAM ‘BUFFET ON A BUDGET’ EMBED MONEY MANAGEMENT IN THEIR COMMUNITY
21-year-old Troy Dennehy recently took home a prize at the Money for Life Challenge Grand Final, which recognised his work embedding money management skills within his community.
The Money for Life Challenge is a national competition which provides £500 grants for teams of 16 to 24 year olds to run a project to improve money management skills in their communities. The most inspiring and impactful projects progress to the National Finals and the UK Grand Final, with great prizes on offer. The Challenge empowers learners in Further Education, work based learning, adult community learning or training organisations to develop innovative, grass-roots money management solutions.
Troy is a resident at East Thames’ Barking and Dagenham Foyer and worked with fellow Foyer residents on the ‘Buffet on a Budget’ project. The residents who live in Troy’s Foyer are between 16 and 24 years of age and have faced barriers in their lives.
Troy explains: “Before the Challenge, I was being arrested all the time. I didn’t listen to anyone, I was constantly in trouble and on the wrong path really. Now I’m just keeping on the straight and narrow. If it hadn’t been for moving to the Foyer and joining the Money for Life Challenge, I’d probably be in prison by now.
“Cooking is a big passion for me and the other Barking Foyer residents. Last year, we held our own Master Chef challenge, which gave us the idea to enter into the Money for Life Challenge. We came up with ‘Buffet on a Budget’ and decided to cook a healthy and tasty meal for 40 friends at a cost of only £1.50 per head. We showed how you can save money while doing something that you really enjoy.
“Since winning at the Final, we’ve written and printed a recipe book with our best recipes for our friends at the Foyer. We’ve also started saving about £10 a week now that we are more aware of our money.”
Troy’s project took the Money for Life Challenge by storm and the team won prizes at both the England and UK Grand Final. Troy says the Challenge was a life-changing experience for him: “Since the Money for Life Challenge I’ve realised that I can cook and that I actually enjoy it. We have even been invited to cook for other organisations. After we won the England finals at Wembley, I knew this is what I want to do for the rest of my life.”
The idea not only landed Troy’s team with the title of the People’s Prize winner at the Money for Life Challenge UK Grand Final, but subsequently gave him the confidence to apply to become one of the apprentices at Jamie Oliver’s Fifteen restaurant. Troy was chosen from thousands of applicants and began his training programme in September 2012.