Parents! Could YOU help improve the state of children's plates?

We’re thrilled to announce that we're expanding the Children’s Food Campaign Parent Ambassadors programme, giving more parents and carers across England the chance to help shape a healthier future for children’s food.

In order to increase the diversity and variety of experience in our parent ambassador network, we're especiallly keen to hear from parents with with children in Years 6-11, and people from diverse and underrepresented backgrounds, whose voices are too often missing from decisions about school food, advertising, and children’s health.  

In September, the Government will expand free school meals to all children from households in receipt of Universal Credit, and we'd love to hear from parents or carers likely to be impacted by this change. 

With shorter lunch breaks and grab-and-go meals now the dominant option in many secondary schools, and persistent inequalities in access to healthy, affordable food, it’s more important than ever that parents of older children are also heard in government policy making.  We also know that lived experience from a wide range of communities is essential to building fairer, more effective food policies.

Parent Ambassadors are at the heart of our Children’s Food Campaign. They help us make sure real family experiences shape national conversations and policy decisions on children’s food.

Ambassador Clare Frewin, parent of a 12, 14 and 16 year old says:

"Working with the amazing Children's Food Team, give me such an energy boost, motivation and fresh ideas. I'm really enjoying being part of the programme. As a mum, I value being able to share my concerns and be actively involved in supporting solutions. This has also given me pause for reflection in my own professional work. Being involved in this programme is incredible reassurance that there is a national voice and coordinated messages behind us”

As a Parent Ambassador, you could:

• Help shape our campaigns on school food, access to healthy food, junk food marketing and children’s health
• Take part in interactive workshops - sharing ideas and insights with other parents from across the country
• Contribute to media and storytelling opportunities that amplify parents’ voices 
• Have the opportunity to meet directly with parliamentarians and decision-makers
• Co-develop practical tools like our parent-led toolkit  and a parents' manifesto to support action in schools and communities

Children's Food Campaign Parent Ambassadors have already helped shape national campaigns, contributed to policy discussions in Westminster, and worked with us to develop powerful resources and messages that reflect what families really want for their children.

Now we’re building on that work and we want to hear from even more parents, especially those whose voices are least often included.

If your child (primary or secondary) will be eligible for Free School Meals from September 2026, or if you're a secondary school parent (or your child is starting secondary in the next year) we want to hear from you.

More information about the programme.

Apply Now