Please introduce yourself and give a brief overview of what you do.
I am an avid campaigner and community organiser, currently working for Bite Back the youth activist movement challenging the food system.
What was your route into the sustainable food sector?
I’ve been a campaigner professionally and in my spare time for almost two decades. I’ve been outspoken on an array of issues including anti-racism, LGBT+ rights and the climate emergency. In my previous role, I worked as Head of Advocacy & Communications for the British Youth Council where we campaigned on issues such as child poverty and free school meals. Now I have the privilege of working for Bite Back where I’m working with a network of passionate young people to oppose a food system that isn’t working. More recently we’ve been working to illustrate how big food isn’t just bad for our health but bad for the planet too.
What’s the best thing about the work that you do?
The most rewarding part of my work is knowing that we are doing our utmost, alongside sector partners, to push back against big food companies who too often are happy to put profit over the health of the next generation. And to make it better, we get to work with our young people to put their voices in places where they would otherwise have no influence.
What challenges or obstacles have you faced in your career or research and how have you overcome them?
The biggest challenge I’ve faced in my career has been remaining enthused and excited about the prospect of change. Campaigning can be demoralising at times when you feel you’ve been working to convince the public, policy makers and politicians of the way forward for any given issue. Thankfully I’ve been able to work alongside so many inspirational people that have kept me ignited.
Who or what has/does inspire your work in this movement?
I tend to take my inspiration from all the people I meet through my work. However, if I had to hunker down, I would think of Phyll Opoku-Gyimah and Ted Brown as two people who have stood up to a system that wasn’t working for people at significant personal cost and risk.
What are your hopes for the future?
I hope for a future where young people have access to a level playing field when navigating the food system. A world where it is socially unacceptable to use manipulative tactics, a world where the biggest food companies can’t overwhelm our advertising with unhealthy products.
What advice would you give to anyone that is passionate about sustainable food systems and wants to work in this sector?
Just get started. Consider volunteering initially (if you can!) to get yourself immersed in the issues of the sector. Follow as many of the key organisations as you can to get a flavour for what the sector is focused on at the moment. Network with the people that make up this sector. Find events or moments that might connect you with others. Lastly, don’t be afraid to connect with people on LinkedIn that you aspire to work with.
Find out more about Bite Back on their website, Instagram or on X
You can follow Rhammel on Instagram
