About this Event
Understanding Allergies London 2026
This event is for anyone who lives with allergies, cares for someone with allergies or simply wants to learn more. We will be hearing about the different types of allergies and how to manage them effectively, developments in treatment and thoughts from experts in the field. It is also a chance to meet like-minded people and come together as a community.If you and your family want to come to the event, we are offering buy one and get one free. If you can't make it in person, don't worry you can also join online.
Head to our website where you can view our last event lineup https://www.sadiebristowfoundation.org.uk/allergy-support/understanding-allergies-2025/
We are thrilled to welcome back:
- Dr Helen Evans-Howells - GP with a specialist role in Allergy
- Dr Francesca Sawer - Clinical Psychologist specialising in Allergy
- Professor Adam Fox - Professor of Paediatric Allergy at Guy's and St Thomas' Hospital
About the Sadie Bristow Foundation
This event is hosted by the Sadie Bristow Foundation.
To find out more about the charity, please see here:
Ready2React UK is the main sponsor of Understanding Allergies 2026.
Speaker Biographies
Clare Bristow
Clare Bristow is the dedicated co-founder and CEO of the Sadie Bristow Foundation, a charitable organisation committed to supporting and advocating for individuals living with allergies. With a passion for making a difference, Clare has spent over 7 years raising awareness, and working tirelessly to ensure those with allergies receive the care and support they deserve. Clare holds a Master's degree in Philanthropic Studies, which has equipped her with the knowledge and expertise needed to create a lasting impact in the world of philanthropy.
Her commitment to learning is exemplified by her a qualification in fundraising, a testament to her continuous dedication to improving her skills and knowledge. An excellent speaker and educator, Clare is passionate about sharing her insights and knowledge to inspire change and foster empathy. She firmly believes that every person has the right to the proper care and support necessary for a healthy and fulfilling life. Through her work with the Sadie Bristow Foundation, she's working to make this belief a reality, one step at a time.
The SBF was set up after their daughter Sadie died of an anaphylactic reaction in 2018. Sadie was the UK’s no1 tennis player at the age of nine. Their aim is to help other families on their journey with allergies whilst spreading awareness and one day be able to say we now have a full service within Kent.
If you and your family want to come we are offering buy one and get one free.
Adam read Medicine at Cambridge University and is currently Professor of Paediatric Allergy at King’s College London & Consultant Paediatric Allergist at Evelina London Children’s Hospital. He spent 9 years as Clinical Lead for Allergy, 3 years as Clinical Director for Specialist Ambulatory Services and a further 5 years as Deputy Medical Director (Commercial) at Guy’s & St. Thomas’ Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. He was founding Director of the KCL Allergy Academy, a postgraduate educational programme, which was a finalist at the BMJ Awards in 2018.
Adam was elected as President of the British Society of Allergy & Clinical Immunology, the first Paediatrician to hold this position, from October 2018 until 2021, after which he took over the role of Chair of the National Allergy Strategy Group from July 2022. As part of this, he jointly chairs the Expert Advisory Group for Allergy with the Department of Health & Social Care and leads the 2025-35 National Allergy Strategy. Together with Profs Gideon Lack & George Du Toit, he established The Allergy Centre of Excellence in London’s prestigious Harley Street Medical District to offer cutting edge allergy diagnostics and treatments.
Adam was awarded ‘Paediatric Allergist of the Year’ from Allergy UK in 2007. His doctoral thesis on peanut allergy received the Raymond Horton Smith prize from Cambridge University in 2012 and he was included in The Times ‘Britain’s 100 Best Children’s Doctors’. Adam received the William Frankland Award for Outstanding contribution to Allergy in 2015 and a Department of Health National Clinical Excellence award from the in 2016 and 2020. In 2024, Adam was the second person to receive the BSACI Fellows Award in recognition of outstanding contribution to clinical allergy. In 2025, Adam was awarded an OBE for services to Paediatric Allergy as part of the King’s Birthday Honours list and included in ‘The Tatler Doctors List’ (2013 & 2026) of the best UK private medical consultants.
@dradamfox
Dr Helen Evans-Howells qualified with honours from Southampton University in 2005 and then trained as a GP, completing this in 2015. Helen became interested in allergy due to her own experiences of managing a child with milk and nut allergies. She undertook the Masters in Allergy at Southampton University and qualified with distinction in 2018.
After working with the allergy team in Southampton Hospital for 4.5years, Helen now runs a private allergy clinic –www.drhelenallergy.co.uk, which provides virtual and face to face allergy consultations. Dr Helen lectures extensively across the UK and internationally. Helen has the only community clinic outside of London which offers food immunotherapy to children under 6, and she also helps run the peanut immunotherapy clinic at Southampton Hospital. Dr Helen has an allergy centre in Ringwood and branch clinic in Belfast. The
Dr Helen works tirelessly to support those with food allergies, sending up an online support group and membership, developing an EATS club (eating allergens together safely) to support families with the introduction of allergens in a supervised setting (for those that are nervous /have others with allergies in the family), and working closely with charity.
Helen was the previous chair for the primary care group of British Society of Allergy and is now a trustee for the Anaphylaxis UK Charity and Chair of their Clinical and Scientific panel.
Helen has appeared on The Jeremy Vine Extra show on Channel 5,BBC Radio, the Today Program and has written for various newspaper articles, raising awareness about allergies and anaphylaxis.
Helen runs a free private Facebook group to provide further support to patients and families struggling with allergies;
www.facebook.com/groups/allergysupportwithdrhelenallergy/
Francesca is a Clinical Psychologist with 15 years’ experience working in the NHS. She is currently a Consultant Clinical Psychologist working in Leeds, having recently made the move North after years of working in London. Previously working at Great Ormond Street Hospital, The Maudsley Hospital, The Evelina Children’s Hospital and St Bartholomew’s.
Whilst Francesca primarily works with children and adolescence navigating tricky times with their mental health and physical health, but it was during her time leading the specialist psychology service in paediatric allergy at The Evelina that she realised a gap in support. While allergies were recognised in medical terms, the psychological impact on children and families was often overlooked.
The more she spoke to families, the more she uncovered the hidden emotional challenges of allergies, which even to her as a clinical psychologist had never been taught as part of her formal training. Ever since become passionate about raising the awareness of the psychological impact of allergies and making information as readily available as possible; and over the last 6 years she has developed and refined her unique approach to supporting allergy anxiety. The Allergy Anxiety Method which is based on evidence-based ideas but adjusted for the unique challenges of living with allergies and has now helped hundreds of families.
Francesca also works closely with allergy charities, including The Sadie Bristow Foundation and Allergy UK and consults with the food and hospitality industry regarding staff and consumer behaviour and the psychological impact of allergies, to make eating safer for those with 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.
Agenda
Speaker Time Table
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Society Building, 8 All Saints Street, London, United Kingdom
GBP 0.00 to GBP 15.87
