Meals and More- How CanTeam has Changed my Experience
Blog written by Esmée, student volunteer and team leader of the CanTeam Crew at Howden School.
Introduction
Canteam, our passion driven dining initiative, captivated me and my group the moment we were offered the chance to partake. The ability to change peoples days and make people just a little happier has always interested me. What began as being offered turned to brainstorming menus, researching nutrition, calculating costs and more. Despite my hesitance to the challenge, I embraced the opportunity with pride as did my team. We all share a burning passion to help others and all share a love of food and community. What inspired me to carry on was the amazing experience we had on our first night, all the smiling faces and heart felt messages on our reviews tugged at my heart strings and solidified the fact that this is what I want to be doing.
My CanTeam Journey
Throughout my time working in CanTeam, me and my team have gained and strengthened our own various skills such as team work and the importance of communication. I have discussed with the team and we all agree we have grown as not only people, but a community.
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 no matter who you are or what you are.
My biggest challenge was getting over the anxiety of hosting for people and figuring out how to be accommodating and not burning ourselves out. CanTeam has taught me how no matter how anxious or worried you are you can really do it if you put your mind to it. And also to always show support to others around you.
Final Thoughts:
Just go for it. It is such a fulfilling and amazing experience to work with so many wonderful people. Don’t let people around you or your own worries hold you back from doing things you want and you enjoy.
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 Bite Back, we provided micro-finance to schools, to plan and run their own CanTeam event(s). Find out more here.
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.