i-MATTER: Amplifying Youth Voices on Allergy and Wellbeing
We are delighted to announce our new partnership with The Natasha Allergy Research Foundation to launch i-MATTER: Youth Allergy Awareness & Mental Health Programme.
Mission
This youth-centred initiative will explore the emotional and social challenges faced by young people living with food allergies, from anxiety and bullying to social exclusion, while working with schools, families, and communities to build safer, more inclusive environments.
Through youth-led focus groups, community listening events, and ambassador schemes, the programme will project young voices, strengthen mental health support, and help shape future school policy and practice. With a focus on equality, i-MATTER will also engage underserved communities to address health inequalities and ensure every young person with food allergies feels heard and supported.
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Jan Parnell, Director of Education at The Natasha Allergy Research Foundation, said:
“We are delighted to partner with ASÉ to co-design our Youth Voice Programme alongside our ambassadors. It’s wonderful to collaborate with an organisation that has such a strong reputation for health advocacy within diverse communities.”
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Pauline Zepherin, Director, Active Successful Engagement (ASÉ) CIC added:
“At ASÉ, we believe in amplifying the voices of young people and communities too often left unheard. This partnership represents a vital step toward creating inclusive, informed environments where young people living with allergies are not only safe but empowered to thrive. Together, we’re driving change that strengthens wellbeing, equity, and understanding across schools and communities.”
Together, we are taking meaningful steps to ensure that young people living with food allergies have the confidence, representation, and support they need to thrive, in school, at home, and in their communities.​
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ASÉ are #1 Fans of the Allergy School
Let’s work together to make a difference and save lives.
Did you know…
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Around 2 children in every classroom now have a food allergy.
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One in five allergic reactions happen in school.
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Black and Asian children are at a higher risk of severe allergic reactions, yet they are less likely to receive life-saving emergency treatment like adrenaline auto-injectors.
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Teenagers with allergies face unique challenges, including increased independence and social pressures, potentially leading to risky behaviours and increased anxiety about managing their condition.
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Food allergies are more common in ethic minority communities, with Black children twice as likely to have a peanut allergy than white children.
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Delayed diagnosis and healthcare inequalities mean many ethnic minority families face greater risks due to systemic barriers in accessing allergy care and treatment.
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Join us and sign up today to be part of the change. Visit the Allergy School to learn more about how you can support this vital initiative.​
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