Bite Back x CanTeam Challenge 2 Launched on World Food Day!
Following the success of the first CanTeam x Bite Back Challenge, we are delighted to announce the launch of Round 2, unveiled today on #WorldFoodDay, with support from the Greenslade Family Foundation – in the first edition of this newsletter.
The partnership is empowering schools to transform their canteens into vibrant community hubs.
CanTeam is an after-school social dining initiative co-designed with young people to encourage students, their families and local community to enjoy nutritious, delicious food and activities together.
Launched and piloted by Future Foundations with funding and support from Big Change, CanTeam is proud to be a winner of the Big Education Challenge.
The first CanTeam Challenge invited Bite Back schools from across England to design and host student-led community dining events. Each school received a grant to create welcoming spaces where good food sparked connection and joy. Participating schools included:
- Abingdon House School (London)
- Grove School (Shropshire) in partnership with Shropshire Good Food Partnership
- Howden School (Yorkshire)
- St Hild’s C of E School (Hartlepool)
- Ormiston Six Villages Academy(Sussex)
- Tendring Technology College(Essex)
- Wellacre Academy (Manchester)
Young people who took part shared po
Young people who took part shared powerful reflections on the impact of their experience.
Jessica, a student volunteer from Tendring Technology College, said:
CanTeam helped me with social interactions, I’ve always been quite socially adverse, but the event we hosted helped me with talking to people, especially adults. I think everyone who can should get involved! The members are so friendly and the work you do is so rewarding – it makes me feel so happy to help people, and provide things to do for others.”
Read Jessica’s full blog here.
At Howden School, Esmée, the student team leader, shared how the project changed her outlook:
“Most of all my experience in CanTeam has been very eye opening to how just some simple TLC and events can make peoples days and improve an individuals wellbeing. This really supports my belief of if we all do one kind thing a day, the world will be a slightly better place for everyone.
Read Esmée’s full blog here.
Building on this success, Round 2 of the Bite Back x CanTeam Challenge is being announced today. We will invite Bite Back schools who took part in the 2024/25 programme or are on the current 2025/26 Bite Back programmes to apply for grants of £200–£500 to host their own student-led CanTeam events. These events will provide access to good food while helping students develop leadership, teamwork and project management skills.
The focus in this round will be on secondary schools hosting local primary families, creating spaces where young people and parents are welcomed in together. This approach will strengthen community links, support smoother transitions between primary and secondary education, make better use of school facilities, and foster intergenerational connections between older and younger peers.
Andy Rayment, Programmes Manager at Bite Back, said:
“We’re thrilled to be building on our partnership with Future Foundations to launch Round 2 of the CanTeam Challenge. It’s been amazing to see young people who took part in the Bite Back Schools Programme turning their ideas into action, creating events that not only bring their communities together but show how food can be a powerful force for change. We can’t wait to see what this next round of schools will achieve.”
Jonathan Harper FRSA, CEO of Future Foundations and Founder of CanTeam, added:
“A highlight for me was at Ormiston Six Villages when Year 10 students cooked a delicious three-course meal and Year 7s proudly served it, all working together to create something special for their community. It was a Friday night to remember. That’s what CanTeam is all about. We’re excited to grow this partnership with Bite Back through Round 2 and support even more young people to transform their schools into places where everyone feels welcome.”
Ormiston Six Villages CanTeam cooked by Year 10 students
By transforming school canteens into welcoming community spaces, the CanTeam Challenge helps young people reimagine the role of food in schools, shifting from grab-and-go to sit-share-and-connect. These events build belonging, tackle loneliness and strengthen community pride.
Big thank you to the schools, young people, teachers, people and partners who made the first round such a success.
We’re delighted to share this news in the first edition of our newly launched newsletter and look forward to sharing updates on this challenge and our wider CanTeam and partners events – watch this space.
For updates on the Bite Back x CanTeam Challenge, subscribe to this newsletter, follow CanTeam and visit www.canteam.org. Contact: canteam@future-foundations.co.ukto register interest in bringing CanTeam to your school or community.
Let’s eat & thrive together
Stay tuned to our website and socials for updates on the CanTeam Challenge and to see these events in action.
To find out more about CanTeam visit: www.CanTeam.Org.
ENDS
Notes to Editors:
For media enquiries please contact:
Jonathan Harper FRSA
07880 722 000