Charitable giving is a primary objective of the Company. We aim to provide funding that will benefit people of all ages and backgrounds in the context of food, cookery and catering. We also offer our knowledge and expertise to individuals and organisations with similar objectives to facilitate their charitable giving. The Cooks Charity is a registered charity administered by the Company, and it focuses its support in three main areas.
The Next Generation
We support charitable activities that educate children about food and cooking. Springboard FutureChef is an annual 4-part competition and programme of activities designed to inspire 12 to 16 year olds to explore cookery as a life skill and potential career. Over 600 secondary schools are involved every year.
The Adopt a School programme is for primary school children, run by the Royal Academy of Culinary Arts. Chefs and hospitality professionals visit schools to share their knowledge and enthusiasm, introducing young children to the basics of food, cooking, and catering.
The Learning Experience
The Company assists charitable training organisations to enable and enrich the education of their students, young and old. At New City College in Hackney, one of London’s most ethnically-diverse areas, we help young ‘would-be’ chefs gain practical skills and work experience by funding equipment for their award-winning training restaurant, the Open Kitchen.
We helped The Clink Charity to launch a new events programme by funding a Chef trainer. The Clink works with HM Prison Service to rehabilitate prisoners and reduce reoffending by training them in cookery and front-of-house skills. The recent venture, Clink Events, provides a high-quality catering service for external private and corporate events.
Community Initiatives
The Company has a long-held association with Treloar College in Alton. Set up by the Lord Mayor of London in 1908, it is one of the country's leading providers of care and education for physically disabled young people. We have contributed to many initiatives over the years, most recently helping their dieticians meet the unique needs of students.
We also present and sponsor two students at Christ’s Hospital, one of the oldest boarding schools in England; an arrangement we have maintained for over 435 years. Founded in 1552, the school still upholds its original charitable objective to educate children who show academic potential, yet are in social, financial or other need.
The Elizabeth Fund
The Elizabeth Fund is a charitable fund set up in commemoration of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. We offer ‘one-off’ grants to smaller food and cooking-related community initiatives in the City of London and its neighbouring boroughs.
With a preference for ‘start-up’ ventures, this funding is often given at short notice to encourage small, local charitable enterprise by helping to create a positive, short-term impact.
Learn more about...
The Elizabeth Fund Our Safeguarding Policy Charity Report 2025
