The ‘For All’ platform began as an editorial initiative by The Sun, designed to spotlight the impact of the cost-of-living crisis on families across the UK. Its purpose was to move beyond awareness and deliver meaningful, measurable support and to fund community solutions.

The Sun sought a trusted partner aligned with this mission. Tesco had relaunched its community giving programme, Tesco Stronger Starts, focused on improving children’s wellbeing. This alignment led to a natural partnership, with the activity fund managed by Groundwork.

Prior to Cooking for All, two funds, Footie for All and Activity for All, had focused on tackling inequalities in sport accessibility and physical activity. Together, The Sun and Tesco distributed around £300,000 in grants to schools and grassroots organisations. This helped to remove cost barriers, provide equipment, improve facilities, and create opportunities for children to participate in community sport.

Building on this success, in 2025 the partnership expanded to launch Cooking for All, which addressed rising food insecurity, poor nutrition, and the decline in cooking skills among young people. Delivered through the Tesco Stronger Starts Cooking Fund, it was the first ‘For All’ campaign to open applications to primary and secondary schools and to community groups, benefitting over 22,500 children.

To mark the launch of the new fund, The Sun sent Gladiators Steel (Zack George) and Sabre (Sheli McCoy) to schools and projects applying for one of the grants to find out how the cash could make a difference. This activation transformed the campaign from a funding announcement into a cultural moment. As recognisable, aspirational figures associated with strength, resilience and teamwork, Steel and Sabre embodied the campaign’s core message: building strong foundations early in life.

Complementing these high-impact narrative moments, the campaign also integrated branded content showcasing actionable, budget-friendly cooking experiences. Stories featuring community cookery sessions, for example, groups preparing nutritious meals together with the help of Tesco funding and professional support, illustrated how healthy eating can be fun, social and empowering.

For the first time, a ‘For All’ initiative was opened to both primary and secondary schools, alongside community groups. Applications rocketed to 695, around double the number compared to Footie for All and Activity for All. It became the highest-subscribed activation in the ‘For All’ series, demonstrating powerful resonance with UK families and educators. It demonstrated synergy with The Sun’s Fruit and Veg for Schools initiative, which provides produce for 400 of the UK’s most deprived schools.

Cooking for All proves the power of purpose-driven media partnerships to create change. Born from The Sun’s For All platform and delivered through Tesco's Stronger Starts programme, the campaign moved beyond storytelling to action. It unlocked £150,000 in funding, with nearly 700 grassroots clubs and schools funded, benefiting over 22,500 children. The partnership received 75,000+ views with a 70.46% average engaged rate across the four online rate. On social, the partnership received over 2.7m impressions.

By combining trusted journalism, cultural moments, celebrity endorsements, and community grants, it doubled previous application numbers and achieved standout engagement. It didn’t just raise awareness of food insecurity; it equipped schools and communities with tools to build healthier futures, transcending standard media sponsorship as a community lifeline.

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