About Us
WE ARE THE NUTRITIONAL WELLBEING FOUNDATION
An independent UK grant-making foundation dedicated to improving public health through better nutrition, funding practical, evidence-informed work across the UK.
We believe nutrition matters deeply to public health, but that it is still too often overlooked as a practical route to improving health and wellbeing.
Where we came from
NWF grew out of The AIM Foundation’s long-standing interest in nutrition and health. Between 2018 and 2023 AIM invested over £1 million in grants to improve nutrition at every stage of life, from pregnancy and early years to schools and healthcare, through education, research, policy and practical support.
AIM is a family foudnation established by Angela and Ian Marks following the sale of Trebor Limited to Cadbury in 1989. Ian’s later gift of Cytoplan shares helped create a lasting source of funding for work to improve the understanding and importance of nutrition.
In 2023, AIM’s trustees created the Nutritional Wellbeing Foundation to give this work greater focus and independence.
What we are here to do
Our purpose is to improve public health through better nutrition. We do this by supporting organisations that are trying to make healthy food easier to understand, access and enjoy - particularly for young people, and increasingly within health systems. We are interested in work that changes the conditions around people, not work that simply places more responsibility on individuals.
Meet Us
Our team brings together expertise in nutrition science, public health, education, policy and philanthropy.
OUR TRUSTEES
CAROLINE MARKS
Chair
Caroline has worked in charitable grantmaking since 1990, as a trustee and through family foundations and Devon Community Foundation. She chaired The AIM Foundation from 2018 to 2026, supporting work to improve health professionals’ understanding of nutrition, and has chaired NWF since its creation in 2023. She loves gardening, seasonal cooking and recently began growing her own vegetables at home.
PAULA BLIGHT
Trustee
Paula has led Somerset and Wessex Eating Disorders Association since 2005, helping grow it into a leading regional charity. She brings experience in charity leadership, governance, fundraising and grantmaking, alongside a deep understanding of eating disorders and the relationship between food and mental health.
In her spare time, Paula enjoys daily walking and also designs and makes her own clothes.
RUTH SEYMOUR
Trustee
Ruth is a Nutritional Therapist and runs Root & Renew Nutrition, supporting individuals with digestive, metabolic and mental health, and businesses with employee wellbeing. Previously a fundraiser in the conservation and health sectors, she understands the challenges charities face in securing appropriate funding. Passionate about realistic, science-based nutrition, Ruth helps clients connect their symptoms with practical steps they can confidently take to improve their health.
CAROLINE LAMB
Trustee
Caroline brings over two decades of marketing, research and behavioural strategy experience in both commercial and non-profit organisations across the UK and Australia. She specifically brings experience in marketing and communications to the NWF team. She is passionate about the difference nutrition can make to health, particularly the opportunity to embed this learning for younger generations.
CAROLINE CERNY
Trustee
Caroline is Deputy Chief Executive at Action on Smoking and Health, where she leads collaboration between alliances across prevention. Her career has focused on evidence-based policy and advocacy, particularly healthier food environments within the NGO sector. Through roles at Bite Back and the Obesity Health Alliance, she brings expertise in school food, nutrition and coalition building. She is passionate about creating the upstream changes needed to help live healthier lives.
LIVIA SOLUSTRI
Trustee
Livia has deep expertise in brand, strategy and communications, having shaped growth and innovation agendas for global names including IKEA, Amazon and Google. She's passionate about human "health and happiness" science - a passion she channels into her platform, The Periodic Table of Veg, and now into her trustee role at NWF.
OUR STAFF AND ADVISORS
SARAH IRVING
Foundation Director
Sarah has worked in charitable grantmaking for over a decade, managing both family and corporate foundations after an earlier career in financial services. She brings experience across strategy, governance, finance and grantmaking, and leads NWF’s day-to-day work. She loves good food and a lively table, and is passionate about making healthier eating feel enjoyable, practical and possible.
EMMA BEESTON
Advisor
Emma is an independent philanthropy advisor to wealthy individuals and families. She has supported the Foundation with developing the grantmaking strategy, conducting research, and identifying opportunities to support. Emma’s mum was a cookery teacher, so she is very good at clearing up along the way when cooking.