Advocacy & Campaigning
Driving change from the kitchen to the policy table
At CRuNCH, we believe empowering young people with food knowledge is only one part of the solution. To create a truly healthier, happier future, we need to challenge the systems shaping what we eat - and how we eat - every day.
We work at both grassroots and policy levels to campaign for real, lasting change in how the UK thinks about food, health, and wellbeing.
Our Mission
To equip young people in the UK with the knowledge and skills they need for better physical and mental wellbeing - setting them up to thrive as healthy, confident adults.
We deliver it in a two-pronged approach:
Grassroots Initiatives
Programmes like Cook5 with CRuNCH inspire healthy change from the ground up - in schools, communities, youth groups and even GP surgeries. We train and support teachers, youth workers and parents to pass on vital life skills that empower young people.
Advocacy & Campaigning
We're also working from the top down - partnering with policy makers, NGOs, and the food industry to tackle the big-picture issues driving poor public health, from food marketing to school catering standards.
Advocating for Smarter Policy
October '24
We were hugely encouraged by the recent House of Lords Report: Recipe for Health, which lays out a bold and urgent plan to fix the UK’s food system. It echoes many of the principles we’ve been championing for years.
Key recommendations include:
- A ban on junk food advertising
- Taxes on unhealthy food
- Mandatory healthy food targets
- A national food strategy that puts health and sustainability first
- Teaching food skills and nutrition earlier, especially in Key Stage 3
"Obesity is a public health emergency... and a ticking time bomb for the nation’s well-being and finances."
We strongly support these reforms - and we’re using our voice to push for their adoption. Particularly close to our hearts: the call to improve food education during the crucial ages of 11–14, when lifelong habits are formed.
Fixing a Broken Food System: Why It Matters
The UK’s food environment is failing us. And the evidence is alarming:
- 2 in 3 adults and over 1 in 3 children are living with overweight or obesity
- Ultra-processed foods dominate diets, especially among young people
- Rates of diet-related illness - from type 2 diabetes to heart disease - are soaring
- Cooking skills and nutritional knowledge are disappearing
- Our food system is damaging not just our health, but our environment
We are in a public health crisis - and prevention is cheaper, kinder and smarter than cure.
Food Justice for All
Healthier eating shouldn’t be a luxury. That’s why we advocate for:
- Affordable healthy food in every community
- Stronger food labelling so people can make informed choices
- Support for local food systems and independent retailers
- Investment in food education across schools and youth services
- Sustainable, planet-friendly practices in farming and production
Let's collaborate
We’re always looking to partner with organisations that share our mission - from food educators and local councils, to retailers, researchers, and sustainability advocates.
Together, we can reimagine a food system that’s not just healthier, but fairer, greener and more joyful for everyone.