Event of the Year
Blog written by Yara, student volunteer and a member of the CanTeam Crew at Haberdashers’ Hatcham College.
Introduction
CanTeam is a student-led initiative that launched at our school. It brings together students who are passionate about making a positive difference. For our first event, we focused on supporting the elderly in our community.
I first heard about CanTeam during a school assembly where members shared their experiences organising events like donation drives, companionship programs, and intergenerational workshops. Their dedication to building a stronger connection between students and the elderly inspired me to get involved, and I joined as a volunteer. Over time, I’ve taken on roles such as coordinating events and managing communications to help expand our reach.
My motivation to join CanTeam comes from a personal experience—my grandparents often spoke about how important community support was as they aged. Being part of CanTeam allows me to give back, create meaningful relationships, and make a real impact on the lives of older adults.
My CanTeam journey:
Participating in CanTeam has helped me develop a range of valuable skills, including leadership, communication, and teamwork. Organising an event has improved my time management and taught me how to work collaboratively with others toward a shared goal. I’ve also developed better interpersonal skills, particularly when interacting with the elderly community, by learning to listen empathetically and respond to their needs.
Through this experience, I’ve discovered that I am more resourceful and adaptable than I realised. Working in diverse situations has shown me the importance of patience and persistence, especially when plans don’t go as expected. It has also reinforced my passion for community service and my desire to create meaningful connections with people.
My biggest challenge has been balancing schoolwork with my volunteer responsibilities. To overcome this, I’ve started setting clearer priorities and using tools like schedules and task lists to manage my time effectively. This approach helps me stay organised and continue contributing to CanTeam without feeling overwhelmed.

Final Thoughts:
I would absolutely recommend that others my age get involved in CanTeam. It’s an incredible opportunity to make a meaningful difference in the lives of the elderly, build strong connections, and develop valuable skills that will benefit you in the future. Through volunteering, you’ll not only gain a sense of purpose and fulfillment but also learn more about the challenges faced by older adults and how you can help address them.
My call to action is simple: take the first step. Join CanTeam, participate in an event, or volunteer your time. Every small action can have a big impact, and together we can create a more connected and supportive community for the elderly. Don’t wait for the perfect moment—get involved today!
Joining CanTeam has been a fulfilling experience that has allowed me to support the elderly, develop valuable skills, and make a meaningful impact in my community.
Background:
CanTeam is an after-school social dining initiative co-designed with young people that encourages students, their families and local communities to enjoy nutritious and delicious food and activities together.
Launched by Future Foundations in June 2023, CanTeam aims to embed a transformative food culture within schools, enabling young people and communities to thrive.
Over the first 6 months of the initiative, CanTeam was funded and supported by the Big Change Big Education Challenge to develop the concept, consult beneficiaries and test the idea. In January 2024, CanTeam was announced a winner of the Big Education Challenge and is being supported by Big Change to scale across the UK.
In partnership with Haberdashers Hatcham College, Haberdashers Academy Trust South and Impact Food Group, we piloted a CanTeam planned and run by Year 12 students in their enrichment classes. They had 5 weeks from launch to their festive dinner. Click here to read more about the pilot event. A second pilot will run in the Spring term.
We are excited to continue developing CanTeam and the impact we can have on the health and wellbeing of young people and their families throughout the UK.
Find out more:
- Read about CanTeam, our BIG idea for change here
Get in touch, if you think you can help…
- Email: jon@future-foundations.co.uk
We are looking for schools and partners who share our vision and can help us pilot CanTeam at scale.