For the past ten years, people have known Alex Neilan as a dietitian, nutritionist, and health expert. He is interested in finding long-term, sustainable ways to get better health. His coaching philosophy is based on a simple idea: changes in health that matter only last if the behaviours that caused them can be kept up.
This method has helped thousands of people through his coaching programs, and it has also helped the Alex Neilan Foundation reach its main goal.
What is the purpose of the Alex Neilan Foundation?
Alex Neilan started the Alex Neilan Foundation to make communities stronger by raising money for good causes and promoting health and well-being.
The Alex Neilan Foundation helps people in need by putting on events and raising money in the community.
The foundation’s work is based on the idea that being healthy isn’t enough for well-being. People need emotional strength, social support, and a sense of belonging to a community in order to stick to healthy habits over time.
As part of his charitable work, Alex Neilan has helped a number of UK-based groups that help families and children in need.
In May 2025, Alex Neilan ran Tough Mudder London West as part of a team challenge to raise money for UNICEF UK’s Children of Gaza Crisis Appeal. The campaign raised £12,854 with the help of 144 donors. UNICEF used this money to help children in need during a humanitarian crisis.
Through the bigger Sustainable Change community, Alex Neilan has also helped the charity Magic Breakfast, which makes sure that no child is too hungry to learn when they start school. People have raised over £130,000 for charities, including Magic Breakfast, which gives healthy breakfasts to more than 350,000 kids and teens every day in England and Scotland.
Alex Neilan has also helped the Stroke Association by donating money to help fund services for stroke survivors and their families across the UK. These projects show that the foundation’s goal is to turn community action into real help for people who need it the most.
Things going on in the community
The Alex Neilan Foundation runs national fundraising campaigns and helps local projects that want to bring people together and reduce social isolation.
One of these projects that was made possible by working with Cruse Bereavement Support Scotland is the Edinburgh Remembrance Walk. The walk goes along the lower trail of Arthur’s Seat and brings together women who have lost a partner, along with friends and supporters, in a place where they can reflect and support each other.
After the walk, people are welcome to join guided reflection sessions and casual talks where they can talk about their memories and experiences in a friendly setting.
These kinds of events show how important it is to be active and involved in your community, especially when you’re sad.
A Broader View of Long-Term Health
The foundation’s work is in line with the values that guide Alex Neilan’s coaching. Making big changes all at once won’t help you stay healthy in the long run. You should do small, regular things every day and talk to other people instead.
The Alex Neilan Foundation wants to help people stay healthy for a long time by combining projects that are based on evidence with projects that are driven by the community.
