MBE for School Food Matters CEO

Stephanie Slater, founder and chief executive of School Food Matters, has been awarded an MBE in the King’s Birthday Honours for her services to children. School Food Matters is a charity that campaigns for nutritious, delicious, and sustainable school meals that encourage children to have a positive relationship with food.

Slater began School Food Matters in 2007, starting as a concerned parent campaigning in her London borough to improve poor-quality meals at her children’s school, which snowballed into her leading a national charity to transform school dinners across England.

She co-chairs the School Food Alliance and is also a founding member of the School Food Review, uniting over 40 organisations working together to drive change in the school food system.

Rebecca O’Connell, School Food Matters chair of trustees and professor of food, families and society at the University of Hertfordshire, said: “It is magnificent that Stephanie’s tireless work to improve the lives of school children throughout England is recognised in this honour.

“Through its extensive grassroots work in school kitchens, canteens, classrooms and communities, School Food Matters has developed a deep understanding of the realities of school food provision and education—and mobilises this knowledge to campaign effectively at the highest levels for systemic, lasting, policy change.

“This award recognises that the charity’s growing access derives from Stephanie’s determination to actively put hope into practice, driving transformation to meet every child’s right to nutritious food. Huge congratulations to Stephanie, on behalf of the board. We are proud and privileged to support your work.”