Fusion21 Foundation supports expansion of Cook for Change community food programme in London

The Fusion21 Foundation is supporting the expansion of Cook for Change, a London-based community food programme tackling food inequality, social isolation and financial resilience.

Delivered by social enterprise Cook for Good, in partnership with housing association Peabody, the programme supports leaders of community-led food initiatives to develop more sustainable (social enterprise) models, create local jobs and strengthen support for residents.

Following the success of the initial phase, the programme has expanded to include Clarion Futures, L&Q, Notting Hill Genesis, alongside additional funding from the Wates Family Enterprise Trust.

At a glance: Cook for Change

• Programme: Cook for Change
• Funded by: Fusion21 Foundation, with support from housing association partners and match funding from the Wates Family Enterprise Trust
• Delivered by: Cook for Good in partnership with Peabody and housing association partners including Clarion Futures, L&Q, and Notting Hill Genesis
• Focus: Food insecurity, social enterprise, local jobs and community resilience
• Location: London, with online support for community food entrepreneurs outside of London

How Cook for Change supports social entrepreneurs and community-led food initiatives

Cook for Change supports social entrepreneurs and community-led food initiatives to develop more sustainable business models and increase their impact.

In conjunction with the Peabody Community Foundation, the initial pilot was supported by £60,000 from the Fusion21 Foundation and brought together 18 social entrepreneurs for a seven-month incubator programme across London.

Participants developed:

• Sustainable business plans
• New income-generating products and services
• Partnerships with housing providers and industry experts

Cook for Change outcomes and social impact

The pilot proved highly successful, delivering strong results for the 18 programme participants:

• 100% developed business plans
• 70% developed new products or services
• 40% piloted these with new clients or markets
• 60% recruited new staff, creating local jobs
• 50% increased the number of beneficiaries they support
• 30% expanded into new or larger venues
• 30% reported increased revenue

Success stories included a community kitchen creating a garden and recruiting staff, and a family cooking initiative becoming a Community Interest Company and launching a new venue.

Next steps: scaling a community food innovation model

Following the success of the 2025 programme, additional housing association partners have joined to scale the model across their communities.

The Fusion21 Foundation has committed a further £25,000 to support the next phase, which will include:

• Expanding the incubator programme
• Developing an alumni network
• Piloting a Discovery Lab to test early-stage ideas with entrepreneurs outside of London

The 2026 programme, running from June to December, will support 20 community leaders, offering:

• Bootcamps and pitch training
• One-to-one expert support
• Access to kitchens and community spaces
• Practical guidance for food businesses, such as leases and kitchen fit-out

Jo Hannan, Head of the Fusion21 Foundation said: “The Fusion21 Foundation is passionate about projects that drive positive change, create social impact and strengthen communities. Following the success of the initial programme, we’re pleased to support the expansion of the Cook for Change model to help more community food organisations build resilience and become more sustainable. Through the expansion of the programme and collaboration with partners across the housing sector, we’re helping more communities develop community food enterprises and thrive.” 

Emma Stewart, Development Director at Cook for Good, added: “We are delighted to be partnering with the Fusion21 Foundation for a second year to grow our Cook for Change programme and network. With so many community food projects relying on so little grant funding, founders need to find ways to sustain their vital work now more than ever. So it’s great to be able to expand our support following the success of our initial pilot and the impact it had on those taking part.”

 Find out more about the Fusion21 Foundation and how it supports community-led social impact projects.