People

Talented artist Anica contributed creative skills to our cause, designing a key piece of artwork for our manifesto. A passionate advocate for young people's health, this activist has presented to Councillors from several London boroughs. "Junk food brands target young children under the guise of healthy packaging, and get away with it," says Anica. "It's integrated into our culture. Cheap, unhealthy foods are easy to access, whether we like it or not. They should be shoved out of the spotlight."

Research-loving Jayda has represented her school in debating contests, and joined Bite Back to help amplify children's voices in our fast-paced world. According to this London-based activist, we need to cut back fast food outlets – particularly outside school gates. "Children are the now and the future, so why are we manipulated and used like puppets for company gains?" asks Jayda. "In a better world, we'd all have access to healthier foods – and finally be able to say no to junk food."

Alice is campaigning to end junk food ads in public spaces. Calling out the lack of corporate accountability in the food industry as "absolutely crazy", this London-based activist is also tackling the role of junk food in sports – particularly women's football. "Individuals are blamed for struggling in a system rigged against them," says Alice. "I don't want to be bombarded by junk food ads when I'm simply walking to school. It's exhausting and relentless."

An aspiring politician, Derin would put child health and food equality firmly on the agenda. Having joined the fight as a Bite Back Youth Leader, this London-based activist wants to see a world where corporations put young people's health before profit. "The most vulnerable and innocent in our society are being targeted, and no one else is stopping it," says Derin. "Junk food is advertised as convenient and cheap, but I pay more to regain the health I lost by eating it."

Having held fundraising and digital roles in the non-profit sector for 10 years, Gina joined Bite Back from Canal & River Trust, and previously co-founded a grassroots campaign to raise awareness of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome. "Giant food companies infiltrate youth culture to put their products in the spotlight, without any concern for their effect on the future health of young people or the planet. It's poisoning art, music, and fashion," she says. "I'd like to see colourful, delicious and nutritious meals everywhere – and for them to be affordable."

Proudly part of the Bite Back movement since the very start, Nika wrote our reports on school food and misleading packaging claims – and leads our Food Systems Accelerator programme. She previously worked on advocacy for organisations such as the Elton John AIDS Foundation and Movember. "I don't want to see family members tricked by 'health claims' into purchasing sugary products anymore," she says. "People should have the freedom to choose food that makes them feel good, not just what's cheapest and is advertised the most."

Cute, colourful, clever marketing for junk makes Hannah angry daily: "Our safe spaces are invaded with free Coca-Cola giveaways, Red Bull-sponsored competitions, and 50%-off Domino's promotions," she says. "The Kellogg's 'red swimsuit' haunted my teenage years: I shovelled spoonfuls, bowlfuls, of Special K into my mouth in an attempt to change my body. Young people should be able to walk down a supermarket aisle without being misled that yoghurts full of sugar are '76% milk', and go about their lives without junk food giants preying on them."

Before joining Bite Back, James was CEO of Ambition Institute, helping grow it into the largest leadership development charity in education. "As a parent, I notice it when I take my kids round the supermarket," he says. "Shopping feels like a constant battle to pull them away from the unhealthy products targeted at them. Unhealthy options flood our streets, screens and schools: young people are so overwhelmed by the bombardment that they can't see or think of alternatives."

Overseeing our new youth boards in Manchester and Liverpool, Rachel has experience mentoring and promoting life skills in various youth settings – most recently as a project leader for mentoring charity ReachOut UK. "You can't go anywhere, or watch anything, without being told you're craving something and need to eat it now," she says. "And the lack of transparency of ingredients is frustrating. The other day I realised that the rock salt I bought wasn't just salt: it has anti-caking agent in it. What even is that?"

Bringing a wealth of digital knowledge, Christin joined us from Raleigh International – where she helped young people commit to life-changing volunteering experiences. Away from work, she acts in independent stage and screen productions, and adores her five fur-babies – two rabbits, three guinea pigs, all named after gods. "It's insidious how big food companies manipulate us into buying their products while washing their hands of all responsibility," she says. "From Doritos-themed lip balm at Claires to the latest KFC collab at Primark, the commercialisation of junk food has reached new heights."

With 10 years experience as a youth worker, mentor and facilitator, Aaron has also written two books encouraging children to express themselves and be creative, touching on themes of diversity and inclusion. "It's disappointing and frustrating to see children as young as toddlers targeted by big food companies," he says. "My two-year-old daughter has colourful products packed with sugar and salt put in her eye-line: an intentional move to build a connection with her. This is manipulation at its worst."

Originally hailing from Zimbabwe, Emmanuel gained valuable experience in Africa providing free school meals for a local boys orphanage. Now based in Yorkshire and the Humber, the young activist maintains a passion for tackling food injustice – an excellent fit for Bite Back's drive for free school meals, as well as many other campaigns and events. Emmanuel loves this opportunity to make an impact in a real and viable way: "It's one of the greatest things I've ever been able to do."