Cook for Good is offering a seven-month initiative helping community food projects develop sustainable funding, writes Liedson Moreno Gomes
A new programme has been launched to support grassroots food organisations in Waltham Forest and across London, as demand for emergency food assistance continues to rise.
Cook for Good has partnered with housing provider L&Q to fund five fully supported places on ‘Cook for Change’, a seven-month initiative helping community food projects develop sustainable funding and long-term financial resilience.
The programme comes as London faces a growing hunger crisis. According to recent data, nearly a quarter of Londoners are living in poverty, with more than 450,000 emergency food parcels distributed in 2023/24 alone. In Waltham Forest, roughly 39% of children live in poverty, and 16.4% of households are in fuel poverty.
Cook for Change includes a three-day bootcamp, leadership and financial coaching, pitch training with Google, and ongoing advice from food experts and corporate partners. Participants will complete the programme with a showcase pitch event and a practical plan for sustainable growth.
Jo Pope, Strategic Partnerships Manager at L&Q, said: “By supporting community food-focused social enterprises today, we hope to help create food security tomorrow.”
Emma Stewart MBE, Development Director at Cook for Good, added: “There is so much passion among community leaders, and Cook for Change equips them with the skills and confidence to grow their ventures beyond crisis response.”
The programme is open to London-based community kitchens, food banks, cookery clubs, social enterprises, and other food-related initiatives.
Applications close on Monday 30th March and more information can be found here
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