Food insecurity and wider inequalities are rising for many people, but there is not enough government or grant funding for organisations delivering support. We need to find innovative ways to enable organisations delivering social change through food and cooking – whether through running community cafes, community growing gardens, food pantries, offering community meals or providing supported employment in hospitality – to be more sustainable. This could be through diversifying income through trading, such as catering models or corporate partnerships or selling products. And we need to provide more support to people who want to do this.

Cook for Good and our partners have developed sustainable social enterprises which tackle social challenges like food insecurity, health inequality and barriers to work. Now we want to help others develop  sustainable solutions too.

We're seeking applications from founders, directors or CEOs of community food organisations, which are supporting people struggling with the cost of living, and looking to diversify their funding through a trading model. Their organisations could be operating food pantries, community cafes, growing projects or hospitality employment schemes.  We’re particularly interested in people who are currently, or hope to be, supporting people living in social housing. You will be passionate about social change, ambitious, ready to learn and collaborative.

This seven-month programme will inspire you to understand whats possible by learning directly from founders of successful food based social enterprises on what works. You will also access advice and practical support from those who are on the journey themselves and wider expert contributors from business, social enterprise and food production and catering. This will be delivered through an initial three day bootcamp, followed by monthly expert learning sesssions and then more tailored 121 venture coaching and brokered introductions to wider advisors to help you start to turn your plans into reality. By the end of the programme you will have completed your own business plan, theory of change and have started to pilot your new trading venture. Cook for Change 2026 timeline.

The key in-person dates are:
Cook for Change Bootcamp: Tuesday 9th June, Wednesday 10th June, Thursday 11th June
Cook for Change Pitch Training and Pitch Day: Wednesday 24 June and Wednesday 8th July
Cook for Change Graduation: Thursday 26th November
There will also be a number of visits throughout the programme to learn from both catering and social enterprise experts. All other group and 121 sessions will take place online and any other in person visits are optional.

The bootcamp and showcase will be at a combination of the Cook for Good site in North London and our partners' locations. It's important for us and for you that this is a practical, immersive experience.

You can see a summary of the programme here.

There are two stages to the application:
1. Apply using our application form
2. Short interview with the Cook for Good team

Applications are open from Tuesday 3rd March to Friday 20th March 2026

Cook for Change 2026 is funded by L&Q Foundation, NHG, Clarion Housing, Peabody, the Fusion 21 Foundation and Wates Family Enterprise Trust. This means programme places can be fully subsidised for participants.

We can cover expenses of up to £100 per day for in person sessions. There will be six across the programme so a maximum of £600 can be expensed.

This programme is for people based in London or within commuting distance of London.

Cook for Good is committed to protecting your personal information and acting in line with your rights under data protection laws and will treat all data in accordance with our Data Protection Policy.
 
To process your application, we will collect and use personal information provided by you in the application form. We may use this information to:  
 • process your application and manage the selection process for this  programme
 • conduct due diligence on you and your organisation
 • contact you about your application for this programme by email
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 If your application is successful, we may also use your information for:
 • managing your participation in the Cook for Change Programme
 • sharing and promoting your journey
 • other reasons discussed with you
 
We may share your information with our funders and partners. They will also only use your information for the reasons above.
 
Further details, including how we share your information and your rights relating to our use of your information, can be found under our Data  Protection Notice on our website.
 
In proceeding with your application, you agree to us processing your application in accordance with our data protection policy.

Please email sarah.fahy@cookforgood.uk and we will endeavour to answer it.