Menu for Change is a fundraising initiative that makes it simple for organisations to help reduce food waste, make events more sustainable, and fund food security for communities across Greater Manchester.
100% of the profits from catering and workshop orders with Open Kitchen MCR go to community initiatives, such as our Food Education Programme. And every week, quality surplus we intercept but don’t use in catering gets redistributed to our community partners, helping families in Greater Manchester facing food insecurity. We created Menu for Change to have even more impact in the region.
The Problem
Over a third of Greater Manchester households worry about affording food. Meanwhile, 10% of the UK’s carbon footprint comes from food that is never eaten. If food waste was a country, it would be the third highest carbon emitter on the planet.
The Future
We aim to help shape a future where food banks are no longer needed, and food waste doesn’t happen.
Funding Meaningful Change
Menu for Change supports organisations seeking to end the need for emergency food provision by helping people in lasting ways.
Choose how you want your event to give back
Remove or reduce an item to cut waste and donate the cost.
Events often mean over-ordering. Instead, you can redirect that budget to fund your choice of Menu for Change initiative.
Remove an item you know tends to go to waste and donate the equivalent cost.
We’ll provide signage explaining the impact to your guests.
Round up your catering bill and donate the difference.
Round up your bill to the nearest whole number, per person or total, and donate the extra to your choice of Menu for Change initiative.
It’s a simple way to make a difference without changing your catering plans, and we’ll provide signage explaining the impact to your guests.
Add a symbolic extra course to your menu and donate its cost.
If your event catering is already well-planned with minimal waste, add a theoretical extra course to your menu and donate what it would have cost.
We’ll provide event signage or menus to explain the impact.
Make a one-off or ongoing contribution.
Whether we’re catering your event or you don’t have one planned right now, you can donate directly to your choice of initiative via PayPal.
We’ll provide event signage so guests understand your impact or supply social media graphics so you can share your support.
Let your guests chip-in via QR code.
We’ll provide signage for your event so attendees can securely donate via PayPal Donate to the initiative they choose.
This works alongside any other Menu for Change option.
Coming soon.
We know the organisations we work with want to support and empower Greater Manchester’s communities, and not just on an event-by-event basis.
Contact us or subscribe to our newsletter to be the first to know when membership launches.
Choose where your money goes
Funds raised through Menu for Change support three vital initiatives.
A sustainable, healthy future
Through Menu for Change, Open Kitchen MCR funds community growing projects, helping people grow fresh, local food and build long-term food security.
These projects bring people together to:
- Grow fresh, local, sustainable produce
- Improve diets and access to nutritious food
- Reduce social isolation and boost mental health
- Enhance air quality and local green spaces
A grassroots solution for a healthier and more connected future.
Providing better food now
Interception and redistribution alone can’t solve food insecurity. And surplus isn’t always able to meet the needs of communities.
Through Menu for Change, Open Kitchen MCR buys healthy, sustainable and culturally appropriate food for community groups. The initiative also helps us do more for our partners – for example, buying tools and essential supplies so food pantries can continue their operations.
Your donation helps source and deliver:
- Healthier, more sustainable food for communities
- Fresh, culturally appropriate options for diverse diets
- Better choices for children and vulnerable groups
Cooking in schools
100% of our profits go into our Food Education Programme, which currently focuses on primary school settings. Now, you can also support the initiative through Menu for Change.
In 2026, our target is to reach 2,340 children across 156 classes – delivering practical and educational food lessons for school pupils in Years 3 to 6.
Our aim is to empower the next generation with the confidence and culinary skills to create a more resilient, waste-free future.
“Feedback from the children has been overwhelmingly positive – they loved the sessions and spoke enthusiastically about what they had learned. What has been especially pleasing is the impact beyond the classroom. Several pupils have since tried the foods again at home and have been helping to prepare dishes with their families. Encouraging children to explore new foods and understand where ingredients come from is such an important life skill, and Open Kitchen achieved this beautifully.”
Farzana Ashraf
Deputy Headteacher at Rack House Primary School
Initiative: Cooking in schools
