Stop Hunger Competition
Sodexo’s Stop Hunger Foundation is dedicated to tackling food insecurity globally. Join this competition to gain funding, mentorship, and support to accelerate your project’s impact in these areas. Through the Stop Hunger Competition, we aim to help you create sustainable solutions that address the root causes of hunger and inequality in the UK & Ireland.
This competition is for ESTABLISHED PROJECTS which have started or already made impact.
Stop Hunger Competition - At a Glance
A competition to get funding and support for projects to focus on alleviating food insecurity in the UK or Ireland.
What is it?
Student-led projects at a UK or Irish university that focus on alleviating food insecurity in the UK and Ireland.
Who is it for?
Successful applicants are invited to present 6 minute in-person pitches, followed by 4 minutes of Q&A from judges. Winners are announced at the NextGen Takeover on 15th April.
What will you do?
Why take part?
Make a difference in your community, secure funding, mentoring and national recognition.
When is the deadline?
Application Deadline: 26 February
Competition Journey
March
Application Deadline
26
February
Finalists Announcement
5
March
In-Person
Competition Finals*
Dublin or London
19
or
24
Winners Announced
@ NextGen Takeover
15
April
*This competition has two in-person finals. Finalists only compete in one of these finals.
Irish and Northern Irish universities will compete in the Dublin Final on 19th of March. All other UK universities will compete in the London Final on the 24th of March.
“The experience pushed us to think bigger, communicate our mission clearly, and connect with a network of people who care about fighting food insecurity. It was a turning point for both me personally and the project.”
Competition Brief
The Stop Hunger Foundation are looking to support established projects which:
“Focus on alleviating food insecurity in the UK or Ireland.”
Successful projects will be invited to present in person to a panel of judges, including members of the Stop Hunger Foundation, Sodexo leadership, and other experts in the field.
This competition is for ESTABLISHED PROJECTS which have started or already made impact.
Key Judging Criteria
Projects will be judged on the following criteria:
-
Support for Stop Hunger’s mission to alleviate food insecurity and/or empower women.
-
Entrepreneurial leadership demonstrated through your project’s concept and execution.
-
Clear positive impact on the beneficiaries you aim to serve.
-
Sustainable ideas that can scale up to maximise positive impact.
What will you gain?
This competition invites established projects addressing food insecurity to put their work to the test, strengthen their approach, and accelerate their impact.
If selected to present at the competition finals, you will gain the opportunity to win:
Grant funding to help scale and deepen your project’s impact on alleviating food insecurity.
Mentorship and support from Sodexo and the Stop Hunger Foundation to help refine and scale your growth.
Insightful feedback from expert judges to help take your project to the next stage.
FAQs
-
The Stop Hunger Foundation are looking to support established projects which:
“Focus on alleviating food insecurity in the UK or Ireland.”
This competition is for ESTABLISHED PROJECTS which have started or already made impact."
-
Fill out the short application form, where you'll share details about your project.
You can apply using the link HERE.Any issues? Contact sbrown@enactus.org
-
This competition is open student-led projects at any UK or Irish university that focus on alleviating food insecurity in the UK and Ireland.
-
Applications for the Stop Hunger Competition must be submitted by Thursday 26th March.
-
Nope! The only difference is the date and location where they are held. Each competing team, regardless of which final they compete in will be subject to the same judging criteria.
-
No, if you are successful, you will only compete in the one final that is nearest to your team.
-
Irish & Northern Irish Universities
In-person final held in Dublin on 19th March.
All Other UK Universities
In-person final held in London on 24th March.
-
The Winners of the Stop Hunger Competition will be announced at the ExCel Centre in London on 15th April, 2026, as part of the celebrations at the NextGen Takeover.
Ready for the challenge?
Submit your application by Thursday 26th February.
This competition is for ESTABLISHED PROJECTS which have started or already made impact.
What is the Stop Hunger Foundation?
Sodexo’s Stop Hunger Foundation has been at the forefront of tackling hunger and inequality around the world. With their expertise and backing, we are looking to support innovative, sustainable solutions that can create long-lasting change. This competition is an incredible opportunity to gain visibility, develop your entrepreneurial skills, and drive positive social impact.
By applying, you’ll not only be contributing to a global movement but also stand a chance to win valuable grant funding, personalised mentorship, and strategic feedback to help you refine and scale your project.
Sodexo’s Stop Hunger Foundation has played a pivotal role in accelerating projects that combat food insecurity and empower communities. Through funding, mentorship, and hands-on support, the Foundation has helped us turn innovative ideas into impactful, sustainable solutions. Below are a few examples of how previous projects have flourished with Sodexo’s backing:
Real Impact, Real Change: See the Power of Sodexo’s Support
Chance for Change - Enactus Aston
After winning this same competition in 2023, Chance for Change has made significant strides in combating food insecurity and empowering women. This project empowers refugees by celebrating their cultural heritage and cuisine, while addressing food insecurity. Through their Global Recipe Book, refugees share their culinary traditions with the world, and the project also offers entrepreneurial support for those looking to start businesses in the food industry.
Thanks to Sodexo’s mentorship, the team gained valuable guidance that helped take the project to the next level. Their mentor, Ian, facilitated a partnership between Sodexo and Enactus Aston, which led to pop-up restaurants at Coventry University, where dishes from the Global Recipe Book were sold, benefiting both the project and the refugees involved.
Thanks to Sodexo’s expertise and Ian’s mentorship, this project gained much-needed visibility and was even featured at the Stop Hunger Foundation Dinner. One of the beneficiaries of the project was able to showcase her cooking skills at the dinner, and the recipe book was available for guests to purchase, raising crucial funds for Enactus Aston’s mission.
Wonky Bowl - Enactus Southampton
In 2023, Enactus Southampton’s Wonky Bowl project was crowned the winner of the Action for Impact Dragon’s Den competition, which awarded £5,000 in funding to accelerate the project’s mission. The competition was a collaboration between 23 Sodexo volunteers and the top five student teams, demonstrating the value of mentorship and community involvement.
Additionally, Enactus Southampton achieved 2nd place in 2024’s World Cup Qualifiers, showcasing their project’s global potential and the continued impact of their innovative solutions.
These stories are just a few examples of how previous winners transformed their ideas into lasting social impact. With funding, mentorship, and strategic connections, your project can make a real difference in the fight against food insecurity.
Don’t miss your chance to be part of this journey – apply today and take the first step toward accelerating your project’s impact!