Bite Back x CanTeam Challenge Launched with 8 schools awarded grants
CanTeam is an after-school social dining initiative co-designed with young people to encourage students and their families to enjoy nutritious, delicious food and activities together. Launched and piloted by Future Foundations with funding from Big Change, CanTeam is proud to be a winner of the Big Education Challenge.
This opportunity was opened up to schools in the 2023/24 and 2024/25 Bite Back programme and Future Foundations partner schools, equipping students with the skills to plan, host, and lead social dining events that bring together their school community.
We are delighted to partner with Bite Back, a youth activist movement set up to challenge a food system flooded with junk food, to trial a Challenge and Grant Award model.
Through this collaboration, selected schools have been awarded funding to create welcoming and inclusive community dining experiences.
How It Works
Each participating school has received a grant of £200 to £500 to host a student-led community dining event funded by the CanTeam Big Education Challenge award.
These events will provide access to good food and activities while developing students’ real-world skills in leadership, project management, and social responsibility.
Schools Taking Part
The following schools have been awarded grants to run CanTeam events:
🏆 8 schools have been awarded grants to take part:
📍 Abingdon House School, London
📍 Grove School, Shropshire
📍 Harris Garrard Academy, London
📍 Howden School, Yorkshire
📍 Ormiston Six Villages Academy, West Sussex
📍 St Hild’s C of E School, Hartlepool
📍 Tendring Technology College, Essex
📍 Wellacre Academy, Manchester
The events will take place in March 2025, with some schools also planning additional events in the summer term.
Why It Matters
By transforming school canteens into welcoming community spaces, the CanTeam Challenge helps young people reimagine the role of food in their schools—shifting the focus from grab-and-go to taking time to enjoy shared experiences that build thriving communities.
Andy Rayment, Programmes Manager, at Bite Back shared:
“CanTeam builds upon our schools programme, which empowers young people to explore food systems and create their own ideas for change in their school. Until now, our efforts have primarily focused on activities during school hours, and we’re now excited to explore the impact of opening school doors to unite communities around healthy food with CanTeam.”
Jonathan Harper, CEO of Future Foundations and Founder of CanTeam said:
“We are excited to partner with Bite Back to trial this challenge model and see schools across the country transform into community hubs that bring young people and their local community together through food, building on the incredible work Bite Back does to help young people learn they can transform the food system”.
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