14 October 2025
'We can’t keep calling it ‘pro-business’ to let firms profit from unhealthy food'
This year, some of the young Food Ambassadors we work with headed to Bournemouth and Liverpool for the Liberal Democrat and Labour Party Conferences. The events brought the activists face to face with MPs and their teams for a discussion about issues impacting citizens across the UK
Food prices are dominating headlines once again as families across Britain find their weekly shop has become a source of genuine anxiety. This cost of living pressure is creating a cascade of problems and driving deeper health inequalities.
Nutritious food is increasingly unaffordable for those who need it most but, food insecurity does not exist in a vacuum.
Stemming from a workshop based on Health Equals’ Building Blocks, the Food Ambassadors talked about how food relates to health inequalities, impacting how we learn and grow, our employment, the money in our pockets, our communities, the environment, and where we live.
They also spoke about solutions, drawing on their experiences to advise the MPs about how to get on top of these challenges.
As young Food Ambassador Rylee, 15, from Somerset, said: "Policymakers should listen to young people because it makes sure that the next generation are inspired to take action on key actions. This can only happen if young people feel listened to, and they feel that they are able to influence change for their generation.
"Having attended the Lib Dem Party Conference Breakfast Roundtable to share my experiences, I hope that the parliamentarians listened to the reality of what the food desert means in the varying rural areas of the UK. I hope it was understood that the quality and access of food is really important, and how much this influences various parts of a young person’s life.
"If I could ask the Prime Minister to do one thing to tackle food insecurity it would be to extend the free school meal offer and ensure the good quality and nutritious value of food available. It cannot be enough to just offer free food. It also has to be about the right food, food that will support young people. The right food, at the right time, for everyone."
With the Government’s Food Strategy, we have an opportunity to move to a Good Food Cycle. A Food Bill would take this further – ensuring that the conditions are in place for local and national food systems to flourish. Our calls are to:
• Strengthen local supply chains and shortening routes to market
• Improve public sector procurement
• Support British farmers and producers to grow more food in the UK
• Establish clear targets for household level food security and health
Taking these actions to ensure nutritious food remains affordable and accessible to as many people as possible is a key part of ensuring the cost-of-living crisis does not escalate further.
Here's what Food Ambassadors attending party conference events said:
Dev Sharma, 20 , from Leicester:
"It’s important that policymakers hear directly from young people because we’re the ones who will live with the long-term consequences of today’s decisions. When I spoke with MPs and ministers at the Labour Party Conference, I wanted them to see that tackling food insecurity isn’t anti-growth, it’s the foundation of growth. A healthy population drives a strong economy, better learning, and greater productivity.
"We can’t keep calling it ‘pro-business’ to let companies profit from unhealthy food systems. Real leadership means regulating the market so that growth and health go hand in hand. The next big step is creating an environment where every business can succeed by doing the right thing by making the healthy choice the easy and affordable choice. That’s how we build a generation that’s not just fed, but truly thriving."
Jacob Kennedy, 21, from Glasgow:
"It is vital for policymakers to hear directly from young people because they are often the ones most affected by the challenges and opportunities of today’s society. Young people bring unique perspectives, shaped by their lived experiences in areas such as education, employment, mental health, and climate change. They are not only the leaders of tomorrow but also active members of society today, and their voices provide valuable insight into what policies are truly effective and relevant.
"Too often, decisions are made without fully considering the impact on our generations, leading to gaps between policy intentions and real-life outcomes. By engaging with young people in their constituencies as well as country, policymakers can ensure that their decisions are more inclusive, forward-thinking, and reflective of the needs of the communities they serve.
"Listening to youth also helps build trust and encourages civic participation, empowering young people to see themselves as active contributors to society as well as politics. Involving our loud and activism voices is not just beneficial - it is essential for creating policies that are sustainable on how the future will react the next time the policymaker ask for our help to make our nation and country a better place."
Jesse Stedall, 21, from Portsmouth:
"Young people should be heard by policymakers directly because it is our future they are building, our world and especially our food system. Having young people's voices in the forefront is crucial to make sure no group is left behind or written off, as young people do often are.
"I hope the policymakers heard just how important young people’s voices are, and also how important food is to not only survive but to live as well. I hope they took what I said about mental health seriously, as food can have such a profound impact on mental wellbeing. The one change I want to see from the prime minister is to have school food standards enforced and created so that every child has access to at least one healthy, nutritious meal every day."
Keira, 17, North West England:
"I believe it's important that policymakers hear straight from young people as it gives them a fresh point of view from the children who are currently going through these situations. I hope my concerns about food insecurity for people in high school, college and university were heard. We all pushed for Free School Meals for early years, which is important, but older children and young people need support too.
"I believe for the prime minister to tackle food insecurity, how food is given to those in education needs to change so it is hidden which children get their food for free and which children pay for their food. I also think the stigma for those using food banks needs to be shifted so those that need the help don’t feel embarrassed that they do."
- These Breakfast Roundtables were funded by Health Equals.
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.
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.
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.
Jesse speaks out about the struggles of autistic young people with food and particularly the impact of food insecurity on children on the spectrum. Jesse feels strongly about families paying too much for unhealthy food and wants healthy food to be cheaper and more accessible. He has received The Jamie Oliver Good School Food Awards 2023.
Hi, my name is Rylee. I live in Somerset, I am 14 years old, and I am new to the role of Young Food Ambassador. I am excited about this role as I can see how I could help people understand food better and raise awareness about food poverty. I have been involved in campaigning to improve school meals, which is important to me as I attend an agricultural school. It's important to set an example to ensure no child goes hungry and that they have access to good, nutritional food.
