Our Food Ambassadors

Asha understands the need for more support for low income single-parent families at risk of food poverty and campaigns passionately about the lifeline provided by Free School Meals, and the need for schools to be "poverty proofed" –e.g. for free water to be available for all children at schools. 

As a mother of two from Hartlepool, I am deeply passionate about the vital role food plays in building strong communities. Growing up, I experienced the challenges of accessing affordable, nutritious food, which inspired me to become a Food Ambassador. Volunteering gives me the opportunity to advocate for food security, sustainability, and food justice while ensuring access to healthy, nutritious and affordable meals for the community.

Beth is a determined young campaigner focusing on delivering the Charter goals in her home in Wales and making sure children have equal access to good diets across the UK. She is a strong believer that food poverty is an issue that a highly developed country like the UK should not have to face and wants the Government to listen to young people to bring about change.

Hey I'm Caroline, A down to earth, happy grateful, straight to the point person, A mum to three amazing children with a carer of children's entertainment and coffee under my belt, I love making wedding/birthday cakes, producing some cool window art, nails, hair, crafts, I love anything DIY from laying floors, decorating, making furniture and beds, there's not much I can't do, I cherish every second of it and I do it all with a huge smile, whilst feeling blessed despite having serious health issues. I also home-school my youngest child who has learning difficulties and is ASD. Not bad eh!

I would love to make a difference all round where food is concerned but especially around schools and families who struggle but also those of us that do home-school or have special needs and spend more time at home. As a child I couldn't make a big difference, or speak up, but having a very poorly parent meant I went without, surely someone could have helped, right?! Well as an adult I can help and I can push to ensure other children and adults alike don't go without, but we are louder together! We can push for healthier options and better quality. Alone, I know I can make a difference, as I have recently, imagine what we can, will and do already achieve, together! 

Dan is a proud dad to his National Diversity Award winning daughter Emily who is a wheelchair user. As well as being a children’s author, columnist and broadcaster on the issues of Disability and care, he is also a policy and campaigns officer at Disability Rights Uk. Dan is neurodiverse, with OCD, PDA autism and blooming bipolar. 

As well as being a Food Ambassador, Dev is Chair of the Leicester Young City Council and recently won the Diana award for his food poverty activism. Dev often speaks out on holiday hunger and Free School Meals himself. He feels strongly about the influence that junk food advertising on young people.

I am a single dad who lives in a council estate block in Kent. Surviving from universal credit, child benefit, and the free school meal vouchers Marcus Rashford passionately campaigned to extend, I discuss my experiences of poverty and food insecurity not only to provide an insight to professional bodies but also to campaign for change in policy so that the understanding and awareness of this inequality is deepened.

Hello there, my name is a Donna McHale, I’m a single mother to 3 handsome boys, Tom, 12, and twins Joe and Josh who are 11.  

I’m excited to be part of the Food Ambassador Team and keen to help and support in any way I can.  

I feel passionate about food, the cost the living and the little support to single parents. 

I’ve recently been helping campaign for free school meals for all, and was approached by Juliet to see if I would be an ambassador and I’ve jumped at the chance. 

Fayeth is a young carer and her mum and her are both epileptic. She and her little sisters are all on Free School Meals and Fayeth volunteers at her local foodbank. Fayeth speaks about food insecurity in the context of health vulnerability, and would like to see all children across all UK nations have equal access to food.

Gianna was on Free School Meals, she studies nutrition at school, so is passionate about making sure all children both get enough food and that it is good quality. Gianna believes any remaining credit on Free School Meal cards should be rolled over accumulated, so children have more opportunity buy the more expensive, healthier options at the school canteen.  

Gino Obaseki is a dedicated Food Ambassador for The Food Foundation UK, committed to advocating for food security and equitable access to nutritious food. With a rich background in community engagement and leadership, Gino has spearheaded initiatives such as "Feed_1000, "Feed_5000" and the "Clean Water Project," positively impacting thousands. His passion for food activism stems from a desire to combat food insecurity and promote sustainable practices. Gino, based in Glasgow, brings extensive experience in advocacy and community development to his role.

Hello! This is Glory Omoaka, a mum of two, an activist and an agent of change who has sat at a roundtable and kitchen table with politicians, local authorities, community members and charities organisations especially refugee-led organisations to accelerate changes in the things that matters to us all as a community and  society in general. I work in the healthcare sector because of my passion to help the vulnerable. I have used my lived experience and my voice to contribute to changes.  

Finally, because I love cooking, and healthy food that is acceptable, available and affordable, I have decided to join other Food Ambassadors to challenge or contribute to policies that will ensure a sustainable food system that is delivered in a dignified manner.

Jacob is a Scottish activist who campaigns for change in his own nation as well as his country. From campaigning at the Scottish Parliament to making changes in his own city Jacob is determined to change politicians' minds for the better and for the future generations.

Jani has grown up in a single-parent home and has felt the brunt of a diet based on cheaper processed foods like pizzas and little to no fruit and vegetables. She speaks out about hunger affecting young people’s concentration at school and preventing them from achieving their goals, like playing sport, due to lack of energy.

Kathleen Kerridge is an office manager and freelance writer from Portsmouth, and has been campaigning against Food Insecurity since January 2015 when she personally faced the realities of Food Poverty in modern Britain.

A single mum who experienced food insecurity in the past (as a young adult and a parent). What helps her to navigate the convoluted food environment are her knowledge in nutrition and budgeting skills. Nevertheless, being a registered Associate Nutritionist while living in a deprived area is not enough - she wants to see less junk food around as both she and her daughter see the impact of it. She would like the school food to be nutritionally adequate, also food lessons in schools to teach practical skills reflecting the current reality, and healthier food to be the cheaper, easier and fairer option. 

I know what it is like to be in receipt of Free School Meals and this is why I joined the Food Foundation as a young Food Ambassador, campaigning to create a healthier, more affordable and sustainable food system for all. I am on the Barnet Council’s youth board, a Young Conservative and also active in mental health groups across the UK. 

I became a Food Ambassador because I felt more needed to be done regarding food insecurity in one of the richest countries on earth. I wanted to do a little more and see where I could contribute. I saw people going to odds to obtain food and on the flip side watching others squander and waste food/ energy which means there's a gap and a major problem is education around this. I felt more could be done.  

Based in London and over 35 years old. 

Food Poverty Campaigner wanting everybody to have access to healthy food. 

Ryan is a politically minded campaigner, acting as a member of the Scottish Youth Parliament and advocating for children in care. He is very strong speaking on the policy changes needed to protect children’s right to healthy and affordable food, and wants to make sure the good practice taking place in Scotland in relation to the monitoring of school food is adopted throughout the UK.

Saf speaks out about the struggles of autistic young people with food and particularly the impact of food insecurity on children on the spectrum. Saf feels strongly about families paying too much for unhealthy food and wants healthy food to be cheaper and more accessible. They have received The Jamie Oliver Good School Food Awards 2023. 

I’m a mum of 2 children under 2. I live in Cornwall. I want to dedicate my free time as a Food Ambassador because I know firsthand how much of a struggle it is to be able to afford formula milk, fruit and veg, not for 1 baby, but for 2, to push through and put others first and go without.  

I am a Food Ambassador because I believe in food justice and change. I believe we can be doing a lot more in the UK to tackle this crisis and I want to be part of a movement that sticks up for our most vulnerable children.

I took on the role of food ambassador as a way to get more involved within the community. To me, a problem with the food system is a problem with the functioning of our country. I want to leverage my experience, networks and expertise to reduce this inefficiency. 

I became a Food Ambassador as I saw the issues going on in the UK regarding poverty. It really struck me to help people become more engaged and understand what it really is. At this moment in time, a few of us are working on awareness packs to highlight what food poverty is from a young persons perspective to share with others. 

My name is Wena, an adult ambassador based in Glasgow. I volunteer at a foodbank, and this opened up my interest on what is good food? What is nutritious and why good and nutritious food is the key for good health. As an advocate, I strive for policies making this food affordable and available, educating the end users (consumers) on the need. 

Yumna is a student advocate and campaigner, elected as Youth MP for Birmingham and Chair of Birmingham Youth Council as well as being an Act4ood, Act4Change Youth Leader. Her fight for an inclusive healthcare system has led her to facilitate numerous sessions with professionals to address healthcare inequalities and speak at national conferences, fuelling her desire to learn more about global and public health. A recent TEDx speaker, ‘Re-Imagining Education To Create An Impact In The World’, Yumna works with organisations focussed on transforming the education system into one that is equitable, inclusive, decolonised and centres the views of learners.

Zahistha, is a UK Registered Associate Nutritionist and a Diabetes Educator who came to the UK as an International student and first hand experienced the struggle to manage finances and feed herself proper food. She focusses on voicing out for the international community in the UK, facing food and nutrition insecurity. 

I became a young food ambassador because I am passionate about helping to end child hunger and to provide a voice for those in need, having a positive impact and giving them a better future.

The phrase 'The sky is the limit' highlights how opportunities differ based on privilege; for many, that limit' is not the same. Child poverty causes this, it affects social mobility, educational attainment, and overall physical and mental wellbeing. Every child in the country should be allowed to have a hot, free school meal at lunch regardless of their postcode. The playing field is completely unfair, and as a result, we are being let down by the policy makers and people we trust to make the best decisions for us.

Debbie wants to change the food environment for children in cities, which in more deprived areas often offers lots of cheap, unhealthy options and not enough fresh, healthy food that’s affordable for families.

The reason why I decided to become a Young Food Ambassador is so I can be apart of changing our nation’s health by inciting change to our flawed food system especially in more affected areas that cheapen the food quality. 

Hasan became a youth campaigner due to his strong belief that no child should go to sleep hungry. He wants to do as much as he can to help young people in a society he feels allows the 'rich to get richer' and the 'poor to get poorer'.

I became a Young Food Ambassador because I want to be part of a team who helps families and young people have the right to food.

I became a Young Food Ambassador because I hate the phrase 'You are too young'. If I want I can do anything and no I am not too young to do anything. If I have to stand up for my fellow humans throughout the UK who are struggling with food problems I will.

I became a Young Food Ambassador when I’m 14 because I want people to hear my side of the story around food poverty. I grew up in a single parent household with my dad raising my older brother and me. We had free school meals up until 2022 and had to cut back so we could afford other things.  

Hello, I am a high school student, who is passionate about changing the food industry and the school meal system. To this day, much of the industry and many school meals, like those at my school, are unhealthy and provide little to no nutrition. So, as a part of the Food Foundation, I will fight for healthier and free school meals for everyone and make healthy eating a staple for future generations. 

I joined Children's Right2Food because I believe that it's every family and young person's right to have access to affordable, nutritional food no matter what their income is. So I joined to give awareness on food poverty that is going on in my community and others.

I have decided to campaign because I recognise the positive impact it will bring to not only our community but everyone else around the country and globe. I also want to spread the belief that no one is ever too young to make a difference or even contribute towards a better future.

The reason why I wanted to become a Young Food Ambassador is because I am really passionate about people having a voice. It makes me feel like I am using my voice in a respectful manner and sticking up for people. My goal is to end child hunger by allowing and campaigning on Free School Meals. 

My name is Tymek Kiliszek. I live in Devon, and I am 16 years old. I have been a Young Food Ambassador since 2022. Since taking on this role, I have campaigned for everyone to have access to nutritious and affordable school meals.

I have spoken to the Department of Education about this issue, and I have also addressed the additional costs of school meals in the House of Commons as the Youth MP for North Devon. I want to make sure that no young person is left hungry or unable to thrive.