Meet our Youth Ambassadors
Allergy School is celebrating its first anniversary.
Since launching in February 2025, more than 22,000 people have engaged with its FREE allergy resources, helping schools across the UK improve food allergy awareness, training, safety and inclusion.
To mark this milestone, Natasha’s Foundation has launched a new Youth Ambassador Programme. Eight young people with food allergies, aged 16 to 25, have signed up to the mentoring programme, developed with money from The Health Lottery Foundation and the charity Wooden Spoon, and in partnership with Goal 17, an award winning national social enterprise, specialising in high-impact youth mentoring.
Over the next year, the ambassadors will become national voices for change, supporting other young people and helping to shape safer, more inclusive environments for those living with food allergies.
Ethan Todhunter
“Since early childhood, I have navigated life with allergies to peanuts, tree nuts, eggs, fish, crustaceans, molluscs and sesame, so I understand how severe allergies can shape every stage of life. One of the biggest challenges was moving to university and travelling independently for the first time. I became connected with the charity when I ran the Liverpool Half Marathon in support of its work. As a Youth Ambassador, I am passionate about using my lived experience to raise awareness of food allergies, reduce anxiety, and support young people as they navigate everyday life.“
Jessica Duckworth
“I have been anaphylactic to eggs, peanuts, hazelnuts and soya since I was young. Having these food allergies has massively restricted my diet and has been a constant struggle in my everyday life. Whilst at university, I trained my housemates and close friends how to use an AAI, and made them aware of my symptoms and triggers. This became vital in my final year when I experienced anaphylaxis to soya protein in turkey. My housemates saved my life. Now in a full-time job, I have made colleagues aware of my allergies, given AAI training and spread awareness.“
Zara Grace
“As an accredited Food Scientist, I look at food through two lenses: professional expertise and personal experience. Following my peanut allergy diagnosis at 16, I chose to study Food Science and Nutrition at the University of Nottingham. I now combine my scientific background with my passion for advocacy, supporting The Natasha Allergy Research Foundation to drive real change for the allergy community. I’m here to show that a diagnosis doesn’t have to limit your life, it can fuel your purpose.”
Jayden Poole
“With serious food allergies from birth, I had to avoid all foods containing even traces of my allergens. As a child I felt different to others. Once I asked Santa to take my food allergies away! Testing showed that my dairy allergy was likely to be lifelong. I was devastated. Aged 15, I underwent oral immunotherapy treatment. I can now eat virtually unlimited amounts of foods containing dairy which is amazing! I’m delighted to be a Youth Ambassador to raise awareness of food allergy, its effects, and to help the charity’s mission to make allergy history.”
Kitty Clark
“Growing up with multiple, severe food allergies has meant navigating each stage of life with added risk, from school and university to the workplace and beyond. I understand how isolating and overwhelming that can feel, but also how powerful education and advocacy are in creating safer, more inclusive environments. The Natasha Allergy Research Foundation has played a crucial role in improving awareness and understanding of food allergies across the UK. Through educational outreach and funding life-changing medical research, their work has a real and lasting impact on millions of people. As a Youth Ambassador, I’m proud to use my lived experience to support others and amplify the Foundation’s message.“
Jorja Boyd
“I’m allergic to 35+ foods and non-food items, with my most severe being paprika, nuts, wasps and coconut. I was 3 when I had my first serious allergic reaction and it has been very challenging growing up with allergies. People didn’t understand the seriousness, and I was bullied. The Natasha Allergy Research Foundation is very important to me. The positive impact it has made and the work it does advocating, raising awareness and supporting individuals with allergies is fantastic and crucial to get real change in society, education, NHS and at government level.”
Nafatiti Nimako – Boatey
“Having anaphylactic food allergies to all nuts, legumes, chickpeas, sesame seeds, cherries, bananas and lentils among other foods have been a hindrance to me, especially on holiday in countries where my allergens are key ingredients in their cooking. Through Natasha’s Foundation I’m learning the importance of staying educated about food allergies, not just for me but for others around me too. Its work has potentially saved thousands of lives so I am immensely honoured to have been asked to become a Youth Ambassador and cannot wait to share my experiences and insights, as well as learn from others.“
Eddie Hughes
“I’m a keen violinist and have performed with the National Children’s Orchestra as well as studying at the Royal Academy of Music. I’m allergic to milk, cashew and pistachio, although I’ve outgrown several other allergies. Living with food allergies has sometimes made school and social situations more difficult due to lack of awareness. I’m honoured to be a youth ambassador for Natasha’s Foundation because I’ve seen the impact of their work and would love to be a part of it.”
Jan Parnell, Education Director
“Since the launch of Allergy School a year ago, we have delivered accredited allergy and anaphylaxis training to thousands of educators, developed a bank of resources that cover all key phases of education, helping staff to embed food allergy awareness in their practice, and organisations to access high quality, free training.
“We have co-created our resources with national training and education partners and schools, and are delighted to welcome our new, youth ambassadors to help deliver and support our mission to improve the lives of children and young people with food allergies.”
Millions of people in the UK live with food allergies and the numbers are spiralling upwards, particularly among young people.
Allergy School has expanded beyond nurseries and primary schools to support early years settings, secondary schools and now higher education students, colleges and universities to offer FREE self-assessment tools, allergy training and best practice guidance to help strengthen allergy policies, improve safeguards and ensure every young person feels empowered, included and protected. Schools and settings can access FREE certified online allergy and anaphylaxis training, alongside a short film for secondary students and staff showing how to respond confidently in a food allergy emergency.
Together, these resources form a growing framework shaped by those who use it. We actively consult students, teachers and early years professionals to understand what more is needed, and work with the youth-led i-MATTER programme to explore the emotional and social impact of food allergies, including anxiety, exclusion and bullying.
All resources are mapped to the National Curriculum and the Early Years Foundation Stage statutory framework 2025 and are endorsed by the Department for Education, making them easy to use and trusted by schools across the UK.
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