Food Ambassador

The Food Foundation works with a diverse group of food activists from across the UK, campaigning both in their own communities and on a national level for the right of all people to be able to access healthy and affordable food. Our Food Ambassadors have lived or living experience of food insecurity. As experts by experience they use their voices to increase the power of our policy asks, bringing light to the real lives behind research and data.

The Food Ambassador volunteer programme is open to all people with lived experience of food insecurity aged 14 years and up. We are really keen to work with school-aged people who want to campaign on improving accessing to Free School Meals and school food quality.

As part of the Food Ambassador volunteer programme, ambassadors attend events and summits, meet with policymakers, and undertake media interviews. While much of the role can be done in your own community (or even your home), some travel may be needed. We will reimburse travel and subsistence expenses to volunteers in line with our Expenses Policy. We work closely with each ambassador, providing support and training opportunities to aid them in their roles as food activists. We also link ambassadors with other organisations to partake in research and focus groups.

Benefits include:

• Opportunities to speak directly to people in positions of power who can enact change (i.e. parliamentarians) and to take part in national advocacy campaigns
• Space, tools and support to develop campaigns at a local level
• Training and support with skills development (such as media interview skills and facilitation skills)
• Participation in research projects which aim to improve the food system
• The chance to meet other like-minded campaigners from across the UK

Skills

Our Food Ambassadors play a crucial role in raising awareness about food insecurity by sharing their first-hand experiences with the media or policymakers. They either live on a low income currently or have done so in the past, providing a unique perspective on the challenges faced by those affected.

Other than having this lived experience, we have no other criteria. Our team will provide the relevant training and support to fulfil the role.