From Cooking to Confidence, Bristol Charity Helps Teenagers Build Skills for Life

By Community Correspondent

Cooking is proving to be a catalyst for confidence, wellbeing and connection as local charity CRuNCH teaches young people to cook, eat and think differently about food. 

A Bristol charity is transforming the way young people think about food by equipping them with the skills and knowledge to cook 5 simple, healthy meals before they leave home.

Since launching in December 2024, CRuNCH has delivered 14 ‘Cook5’ programmes in secondary schools across the city and surrounding areas, giving more than 335 teenagers and their families the skills and confidence to cook healthy, affordable meals from scratch. 

CRuNCH’s goal is to make Bristol the UK’s first ‘Cook5 City’, where every teenager leaves school able to cook five healthy meals.

By 2028, the charity aims to reach 5,000 young people, building a model it can replicate nationally to impact half a million lives within ten years. 

WATCH CRuNCH IN ACTION HERE:

Through its five-week Cook5 with CRuNCH course, students learn to cook five nutritious meals while developing teamwork, problem-solving and resilience. The result is more than just practical kitchen skills, it’s confidence, pride and stronger family connections.

So far, students have cooked more than 1,700 healthy meals, with many now cooking with siblings and parents at home.

Each five-week course ends with a celebration where parents and carers join their children in the kitchen, strengthening links between school and home. 

“Cooking is the catalyst for so much more,” says Kate Percy, founder and CEO of CRuNCH. “When young people learn to cook, they’re not just learning about food. They’re discovering independence, confidence and connection. We’ve seen children who were shy, disengaged or disruptive in school light up in the kitchen and take that positivity back into their homes and classrooms. In one case a child, who lives with selective mutism even started talking to teachers for the first time.” 

Two-thirds of UK teenagers’ daily calories come from ultra-processed foods, contributing to rising rates of obesity, diabetes and poor mental health.

In Bristol, more than a third of 10–11-year-olds are already classed as overweight or obese. CRuNCH is tackling this issue by giving young people the knowledge and skills to make healthier choices for life. 

With support from the Nutrition Wellbeing Foundation, Nisbets, Emersons Green Town Council and a growing team of trained volunteers, CRuNCH is enabling thousands of schoolchildren across Bristol and nearby areas to learn the basics of cooking healthy, affordable meals.

The volunteers include chefs, teachers, healthcare professionals and community members who share a passion for helping young people gain life skills. Demand from schools continues to grow, and CRuNCH is building new partnerships to reach even more pupils across the City, with a special focus on those from disadvantaged backgrounds. 

As an active member of the Bristol Good Food 2030 working group, CRuNCH contributes to the city’s collective mission to create a fairer, more sustainable food future, ensuring that every young person has access to good food skills and education. 

Each five-week course ends with a celebration where parents and carers join their children in the kitchen, strengthening links between school and home. 

Jeanine Preece, Associate Assistant Principal at CLF Post 16, said: “Many of our students had never cooked before, but by week five they were cooking for their families. The change in their confidence has been amazing to see.”

Love cooking? Join our mission to get Weston’s teenagers confident in the kitchen!


We’re looking for volunteers to join our fun, hands-on cooking sessions in Weston schools. You don’t need to be a professional chef or teacher — just someone who enjoys cooking and has a bit of time to spare on weekday afternoons.
If that sounds like you, we’d love to hear from you!

No formal experience needed

Full support and training provided

A chance to make a real difference in your local community
Get in touch via the details below:  Message Lauren at volunteer@crunchtime.org.uk Visit us at www.crunchtime.org.uk