Christina Adane

Christina Adane is a British social campaigner responsible for the campaign to feed disadvantaged children who were entitled to school meals free of charge in term-time but not provided for (at all) in the summer holidays, and so at risk of hunger. This campaign was given a high profile by footballer Marcus Rashford and as a result the UK government changed its policy in 2020.[1][2] Adane was one of the BBC's 100 Women of 2020, "the hundred most inspiring and influential women in the world".[3]

Christina Adane
Adane speaks to the British Library in 2021
EducationGrey Coat Hospital academy school
OrganizationBite Back 2030
Known forStarting campaign for child hunger in the UK; with Marcus Rashford ensuring free school meals are given in holidays
Honours BBC 100 Women 2020

Biography

Adane attended Grey Coat Hospital, an academy school in Westminster, London.[4] Like Marcus Rashford, the footballer, Adane had been a recipient of free school meals, and so was a strong campaigner for ending child hunger in Britain, and wanted to ensure that free meals[5] essential to disadvantaged children in term time would not be withdrawn during the school holidays.[6]

Her campaigning began at school when she was only 11 years old with a pyjama and baking fund-raiser for the Ebola Crisis.[7]

Adane is the youth board co-chair of Bite Back 2030,[8] an organisation that aims to empower young people in leading the campaign against the injustices in the current food system and the right of the next generation to healthy food. During the lockdown for the coronavirus pandemic, Adane answered questions on the BBC News, about the research this organisation carried out with Guy's and St.Thomas's Charity and 1000 teenagers, into lockdown "snacking" diet and family meals.[9]

Having started a rapidly growing petition on behalf of the 1.4million children in the UK who rely on free school meals outside of term-time,[10][11][6][7] which attracted 100,000 signatures in a week, [12] her petition ended up being supported by more than 430,000 signatures.[13] She has spoken on the right of every child to food and on this petition (after the UK Parliament had voted against extending free school meals during the pandemic),[14] for example, at the WE Day with celebrity chef Jamie Oliver,[15] and at other youth empowerment events such as the Power of Youth Festival, which showcases youth activists and has 1000 partner organisations with aims to change the way that young people are viewed by society.[4]

Adane's campaign was supported by Marcus Rashford.[3] Adane was recognised for her work when she was included in the BBC's 100 Women.[3] Rashford was credited with forcing the government to re-think its funding of school meals,[2] but it was Adane who was behind the campaign.[3] She has supported moves for more nutritious meals in schools so that 'no child grows up in a food desert'.[16]

References
  1. Rashford, Marcus (15 June 2020). "'Protect the vulnerable': Marcus Rashford's open letter to MPs". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 10 March 2021.
  2. "Marcus Rashford 'proud' after forcing government U-turn on free school meals". Sky Sports. Retrieved 10 March 2021.
  3. "BBC 100 Women 2020: Who is on the list this year?". BBC News. 23 November 2020. Retrieved 11 March 2021.
  4. "Speaker Listing 5 – Power of Youth Festival". Power of Youth Festival. Archived from the original on 20 January 2021. Retrieved 10 March 2021.
  5. Adane, Christina (20 May 2020). "Boris Johnson, Don't Make Me And 1.3 Million Other Children Go Hungry Next Week". HuffPost UK. Retrieved 10 March 2021.
  6. Porter, Toby (27 May 2020). "Teenager wins victory after she petitioned for free school meals during lockdown half term". South London News. Retrieved 10 March 2021.
  7. "Christina Adane, Activist, Board Member & Co-chair of Bite Back 2030". WOTC - Women of the City. p. 52. Retrieved 10 March 2021.
  8. "Christina Adane | Bite Back 2030". www.biteback2030.com. Retrieved 10 March 2021.
  9. "Coronavirus: Snacking and family meals increase in lockdown". BBC News. 30 June 2020. Retrieved 10 March 2021.
  10. Lazenby, Peter (19 May 2020). "Schoolgirl calls on government not to end free school meals for desperate children during summer holidays". Morning Star. Retrieved 10 March 2021.
  11. Porter, Toby (21 May 2020). "Teen's appeal to Prime Minister: Please give us free school meals during half-term". South London News. Retrieved 10 March 2021.
  12. "An Update From Christina On Her Free School Meals Petition | Bite Back 2030". biteback2030.com. 26 May 2020. Retrieved 10 March 2021.
  13. "Christina Named Among 100 Most Influential Women of 2020 by the BBC! | Bite Back 2030". www.biteback2030.com. 23 November 2020. Retrieved 15 March 2021.
  14. McGuinness, Alan (22 October 2020). "Marcus Rashford speaks out after Tory MPs reject call to extend free school meals over the holidays". Sky News. Retrieved 10 March 2021.
  15. Kufuor, Afia (16 December 2020). "'Every child deserves the right to food'". Internation. Retrieved 10 March 2021.
  16. Nabibhah, Parkar (19 November 2021). "Meet The Original 18-Year-Old Champion Of Free School Meals". HuffPost UK. Archived from the original on 19 November 2021. Retrieved 22 December 2021.
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