Understanding Allergies 2026

Professor of Paediatric Allergy at Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust

Adam read Medicine at Cambridge University and is a leading consultant in paediatric allergy. From 2006, he spent nine years as Clinical Lead for Allergy (adult and paediatric) at Guy’s and St Thomas’ Hospitals, London. After three years as Clinical Director for Specialist Ambulatory Medicine, he became Deputy Medical Director (Commercial) for Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust from 2018 to 2023.

He is also Professor of Paediatric Allergy at King’s College London and founding Director of the KCL Allergy Academy, a postgraduate education programme that was a finalist at the BMJ Awards in 2018.

Adam served as President of the British Society for Allergy & Clinical Immunology (BSACI) from 2018 to 2021 – the first paediatrician to hold this position. He is now Chair of the National Allergy Strategy Group and plays a key role in shaping the UK’s National Allergy Strategy, working closely with the Department of Health & Social Care.

He has received numerous awards, including ‘Paediatric Allergist of the Year’ from Allergy UK. His doctoral research on peanut allergy was awarded the Raymond Horton-Smith Prize at Cambridge University, and he has been recognised in The Times list of Britain’s top children’s doctors. He has also received the William Frankland Award for Outstanding Contribution to Allergy and multiple National Clinical Excellence Awards.

In 2021, Adam co-founded The Food Allergy Immunotherapy Centre at Great Ormond Street Hospital, where he led the first patient outside the United States to receive Palforzia, the first licensed treatment for peanut allergy desensitisation. The centre now provides oral immunotherapy for a range of food allergies.

Dr Francesca Sawer, Clinical Psychologist specialising in allergies (@drfrancescas)

Francesca is an experienced clinical psychologist specialising in paediatrics, currently working at Great Ormond Street Hospital in London.

Her work focuses on supporting young people and their families to build confidence and develop practical tools, strategies, and insights to manage their emotional wellbeing and mental health. She is passionate about helping families navigate the challenges that can come with living with allergies.

Francesca has a particular interest in paediatric allergy and previously led the psychology team at the Children’s Allergy Service at Evelina London Children’s Hospital, one of the largest allergy services in Europe.

Recognising the limited availability of psychological support for children with allergies across the UK, she continues to be actively involved in this area. She works with the Sadie Bristow Foundation as a specialist advisor and supports families through Dr Helen Allergy, offering guidance via memberships, short courses, and one-to-one private practice.

Dr Helen Evans-Howells, GP and Allergy Specialist (Dr Helen Allergy)

Dr Helen Evans-Howells qualified with honours from the University of Southampton in 2005 and completed her GP training in 2015. Her interest in allergy developed through personal experience of managing her child’s milk and nut allergies. She went on to complete a Master’s degree in Allergy at the University of Southampton, graduating with distinction in 2018.

After working with the allergy team at Southampton Hospital for over four years, Helen now runs a private allergy clinic (drhelenallergy.co.uk), offering both virtual and face-to-face consultations. She lectures widely across the UK and internationally and is a leading voice in community-based allergy care.

Helen runs one of the only community clinics outside London offering food immunotherapy for children under six, and also supports the peanut immunotherapy clinic at Southampton Hospital. She has an allergy centre in Ringwood and a branch clinic in Belfast.

She is passionate about supporting families living with food allergies and has developed a range of services, including an online membership and support community, as well as the EATS Club (Eating Allergens Together Safely), which helps families introduce allergens in a supervised and supportive environment.

Helen previously chaired the Primary Care Group of the British Society for Allergy & Clinical Immunology (BSACI) and is now a trustee of Anaphylaxis UK, where she also chairs the Clinical and Scientific Panel.

She regularly contributes to national media, including Channel 5, BBC Radio, and the Today programme, and has written for a range of publications to raise awareness of allergies and anaphylaxis.

Helen also runs a free private Facebook group to support patients and families navigating allergies.

Reuben is 12 years old and in Year 8 at a state secondary school in England. He was diagnosed with a milk allergy at just four months old, followed by egg and soya allergies. Over the following year, he experienced several anaphylactic reactions, which led to further testing and the diagnosis of additional allergies to peanuts, tree nuts, sesame, fish, and shellfish. He has since grown out of his milk, egg, and soya allergies, but continues to have severe allergies to the others.

Reuben is a passionate advocate for allergy awareness and has been contributing behind the scenes to his mum’s platform, @ourallergystory, for many years. He has helped raise awareness through appearances on BBC News, as well as features in national publications including the Daily Express, Daily Record, and Daily Mirror. He has also contributed to allergy research as a patient participant. Since 2024, Reuben has thoroughly enjoyed serving as a judge for the Free From Food & Drinks Awards.

Having successfully navigated school trips, residentials, and the transition from primary to secondary school, Reuben is confident in managing his allergies independently. He regularly eats out with friends and, in 2023, took his first trip abroad with the support of his allergist; a milestone that opened the door to further travel. Since then, he has visited France, the Canary Islands, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, and Belgium, and is currently planning future trips to Croatia and Italy.

Over the years, Reuben has experienced five anaphylactic reactions and has used these experiences to help others. He has taken part in a UK-based clinical trial, served as an ambassador for the Allergy & Free From Show 2026, and is a youth voice for the UK charity MedicAlert. He has also spoken to clinical professionals about living with anaphylaxis to support research and has presented to his classmates to improve allergy awareness and understanding in school.

In his spare time, Reuben channels his creativity and passion for writing into developing his fantasy novels. With a love of storytelling and a strong imagination, his dream is to become a successful published author.

Q&A

Why did you want to speak at Understanding Allergies 2026?

I want to speak at Understanding Allergies because I feel passionate about spreading allergy awareness and helping families living with food allergies. I also want to help people who don’t have allergies understand some of the challenges that come with living with them.

I really want to give some inspiration and reassurance to other young people with food allergies and their families. Having allergies can sometimes be difficult, but they don’t have to stop you doing the things you want to do. I travel, eat out, go on school trips, spend time with my friends and try new things. Sometimes it takes more planning and you have to be careful, but you can still do so much.

I think it’s important for young people with allergies to hear from other young people who understand what it’s actually like.

What do you wish more people understood about what it’s really like growing up with food allergies?

There are a few things I wish more people understood.

Firstly, having a food allergy isn’t a choice. It’s a medical condition, and even a very small amount of something I’m allergic to could make me seriously ill.

I also wish people understood that jokes about allergies aren’t funny. Saying things like, “This banana may contain nuts” might seem like a joke to someone without allergies, but when you have to think about food allergies every day, those comments can be frustrating and can make you feel like people aren’t taking your allergies seriously.

Another thing is “may contain” labels. If something says “may contain” one of my allergens, I don’t eat it. Some people don’t understand why, because the allergen isn’t listed as an ingredient, but for me it’s not worth taking the risk that it could actually be there.

I don’t want people to feel sorry for me or make me feel different because I have allergies. I do want people to understand that sometimes I need things to be done differently to keep me safe. I want my allergies to be taken seriously and respected, while still being included as much as possible, like everyone else.

What would you say to another young person who sometimes finds living with allergies difficult?

I’d say find friends, restaurants, foods, brands and tools that you know work for you, because it’s good to have people and things you trust. But also keep trying new things when you can.

For me, it’s about finding a balance between having your tried-and-trusted places and foods, and giving new things a shot when you feel up to it and you have enough information.

At the same time, don’t take unnecessary risks because of peer pressure or because you’re worried about seeming like a nuisance. Asking questions or saying you can’t eat something isn’t being difficult. Your safety is more important than what someone else thinks.

There will probably be times when having allergies is frustrating or you feel like you’re missing out, and that’s okay. Other people with allergies understand that feeling too. You’re not alone.

Another thing I’d say is to build your confidence a little bit at a time. As you get older, try taking on a bit more responsibility for your allergies when you feel ready. It could be checking a food label yourself, asking a question in a restaurant or making sure you have your medication with you.

You don’t have to do everything on your own straight away. Start with small things, with your parents or someone you trust there to support you. The more you practise, the more confident you can become. For me, being independent with my allergies doesn’t mean taking more risks, it means learning how to keep myself as safe as I can.

But allergies don’t have to stop you having great experiences. Be careful, speak up for yourself, find the people and places you trust, and don’t be afraid to try new things safely.

You can still travel, eat out, go out with your friends and do the things you enjoy. Sometimes you just have to do them a little differently, or a lot differently.

As Reuben’s mum, how does it feel seeing him share his own experiences and voice at Understanding Allergies 2026?

I’m incredibly proud of Reuben. We’ve been navigating life with food allergies together for 13 years, and over that time I’ve watched him gradually take on more and more responsibility for managing his own allergies.

As his mum, it’s quite emotional seeing him become increasingly independent and advocate for himself so confidently. For so many years, I was the one checking labels, asking the questions, explaining his allergies and making sure he was safe. Now, more and more, I’m watching him do those things for himself. My role has slowly changed over the years from doing it for him to him taking the lead and me there to support him when he needs me.

I’m especially proud that he wants to use his own experiences to help other young people with food allergies and their families. He’s lived with this his whole life, so his voice and perspective really matter.

Food allergies have brought challenges along the way and, as a parent, I’ll always have that instinct to keep him safe, but I also have more and more confidence in his ability to manage his allergies himself. It’s going to be quite emotional seeing Reuben stand up and share his experiences in November. If he can reassure even one young person that they’re not alone, that they can still do so much and that they can gradually learn to do more for themselves, I know how much that will mean to Reuben.

This is what we’ve always been working towards: for him to understand his allergies, know the risks, have the confidence to speak up for himself and, at the same time, live as full a life as possible.