NATASHA’S Foundation has joined forces with campaigner Sarah Pattison, aka Welsh Allergy Mummy, to demand that children and young people with allergies in Welsh schools receive the same vital safeguards as those in England.
While England is moving ahead with issuing statutory guidance for allergen management in schools, set to be finalised soon, children and young people in the rest of the UK are being left vulnerable.
To ensure equal protection for all children, Natasha’s Foundation, the UK’s food allergy charity, and Sarah, mum of a child with multiple food allergies, are launching Allergy Action Wales.
This joint campaign is calling on the Welsh Government to adopt Benedict’s Law and introduce statutory guidance so that schools across Wales provide children with allergies the same level of protection as schools in England.
From September 2026, the Government in England is ensuring all schools comply with Benedict’s Law – and implement new allergen management policies and procedures to help keep children with allergies safer and more included.
Tanya Ednan-Laperouse OBE, founder of Natasha’s Foundation, said: “All children with allergy should have the same protections at school regardless of where they live.
“The new statutory guidance is a huge step forward for allergy families in England. We now need urgent action to ensure that all children benefit from these new protections, including children in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.”
Allergy Action Wales is supported by Becky Gittins MP, headteacher Joanna Taylor, Cllr Amanda McConnell at Caerphilly County Borough Council and many more.
This week, Caerphilly County Borough Council took steps to protect children with allergies in Wales.
It passed a motion to ask the Welsh Government whether it is going to introduce similar safeguards as Benedict’s Law in England. Now other councils must follow suit.
Cllr Amanda McConnell said: “There is currently no requirement for schools to hold spare adrenaline auto injectors and arrangements may vary between schools, depending on local policies and risk assessments.
“This motion is not about criticising the excellent work our schools already do, nor is it about placing additional burdens on schools.
“It is about asking whether a more consistent, national approach would further strengthen the safety of children with severe allergies across Wales.”
Becky Gittins MP, Member of Parliament for Clwyd East and allergy campaigner, said: “Around 2 children in every classroom live with food allergy in Wales, and many more live with other types of allergies. Yet allergy is too often overlooked.
“Anaphylaxis can kill in minutes, and for families with allergic children, knowing their schools are prepared for a medical emergency like that is incredibly important.
“That’s why I’m so pleased that Benedict’s Law is being rolled out across England, and why I’m now calling on the Welsh Government to follow suit. We need updated statutory allergy guidance across the UK to support schools to keep children safe.”
Sign and share the petition, to ensure that adopting Benedict’s Law is debated in the Senedd Siambr and no child with allergy is left behind.
Allergy Action Wales is backed by Allergy School, the educational arm of Natasha’s Foundation, which is already supporting schools in Wales and is proud to offer numerous Welsh language resources completely free of charge.
Adopting Benedict’s Law in Wales would end the current postcode lottery, where some schools provide excellent safety and support to children and young people with food allergy and others don’t.
Natasha Ednan-Laperouse lived with multiple food allergies. She died in 2016, aged 15, after eating a baguette containing sesame, to which she was allergic.
The sesame seeds were not visible, and the allergen was not marked on the label. Natasha’s death was entirely preventable.
Natasha’s parents, Tanya and Nadim Ednan-Laperouse OBEs, launched the Foundation in 2019 to fund medical research and improve the lives of people with food allergy.
Originally The Natasha Allergy Research Foundation, the charity has rebranded and is now called Natasha’s Foundation, the UK’s food allergy charity.
For more information, visit the Natasha’s Foundation website.
