Our funding is helping CRuNCH expand Cook5, a practical programme that teaches 11 to 18-year-olds how to prepare five healthy meals. Delivered through five hands-on sessions, it gives young people the knowledge, confidence and basic techniques needed to cook for themselves.
Participants learn skills such as safe knife use, preparing fresh ingredients, understanding nutrition and adapting recipes. They cook and eat together, then take recipes home so they can repeat the meals and share what they have learned with their families. The programme is designed to be sociable and encouraging, making cooking feel achievable rather than intimidating.
NWF funding supports staff, volunteer recruitment and training, ingredients, equipment and practical resources. It is also helping CRuNCH develop a consistent model that can be used by more schools without losing the quality and personal approach that make it effective.
The three-year grant aims to reach more than 3,000 young people across 130 schools, with a particular focus on communities where access to cooking opportunities may be limited. We are funding Cook5 because practical food skills can support healthier choices, independence and self-belief. Early delivery also suggests that cooking together can strengthen relationships, belonging and engagement with school, adding value beyond the kitchen.
Awarded July 2025