Revision Notes to Real Change: Emily's Year At Bite Back

If you’d told me at the start of this year — when I was buried under revision notes and flashcards — that 2025 would become one of the most empowering and eye-opening years of my life, I probably would’ve laughed! But here we are…

This year I’ve learnt a lot, and much to my surprise, not all of it was to do with quadratic equations. I discovered lessons far beyond GCSE’s — lessons about how young people can make real change, and how junk food companies are deliberately targeting us. They’re flooding our high streets and pouring millions into ads designed to hook young people into lifelong habits that harm our health.

And once I saw it, I couldn’t unsee it. On my phone. At my bus stop. On the walk home, perfectly timed for moments when I was tired after a long day at school. The colours, the placement, the timing — all designed to catch my attention. The intent and deliberacy behind them was clear, and made me even more determined to call Big Food out.

That’s why my favourite moment with Bite Back this year was seeing our billboards go up all across London. Taking up the space usually dominated by the very companies we’re calling out felt like such a win, and knowing that thousands of people were seeing them each day made it even better.

I remember the first time I opened Instagram and saw our own message on my feed — huge, bright, and completely unapologetic. It really hit me that in that moment that we weren’t just “being listened to” as young people. We were taking up actual space in the real world, and visibly making change. Even through my phone screen, it felt powerful.

But it’s not just the big moments I love at Bite Back. My overall favourite moment with Bite Back this year was our end of year event. It was the perfect way to wrap up such an intense year — after months of meetings, learning, and pushing for change, it felt amazing to celebrate together with good food and (albeit questionable) karaoke.

This year’s event wasn’t just a chance to see everyone outside of their usual virtual boxes and celebrate everything we’ve achieved; it was the perfect moment to look forward into 2026, and map out our hopes and ambitions. Being in a room full of young people who care about the same thing is always energising — it reminds me why this movement is so powerful.

This year wasn’t perfect — GCSE’s made sure of that! But it was brave, energetic, and honestly unforgettable. My hope is that 2026 is yet another year of campaigns, demanding better, and refusing to accept a food system designed to work against us.

And knowing that all of you care about what we’re fighting for, makes us even more powerful.