The most Festive Dinner in South London!
Blog written by Julia, student volunteer and a member of the CanTeam Crew at Haberdashers’ Hatcham College.
Introduction
CanTeam is a group of students at my school that focuses on bringing people together through community service especially during the winter, particularly by organising food for everyone and supporting local charities. I first heard about CanTeam during an assembly in November when a few members presented the group’s mission and their concept. The idea of making a tangible difference in our community really caught my attention, so I decided to get involved. Since joining, I’ve taken on several roles within the team, including assisting with the planning and organisation of food services and decorations. Each role has taught me valuable skills, such as teamwork, leadership, and effective communication. However, what truly stood out to me was not just the logistics, but the personal connections I made and seeing first-hand the difference we were making. CanTeam has been a rewarding experience, not only because of the positive impact we’ve made, but also because it has allowed me to be part of something much larger than myself.
My CanTeam journey:
Participating in CanTeam as a volunteer has helped me develop a wide range of skills, both practical and personal. One of the key skills I’ve developed is teamwork. Working with others to organise events and food drives has shown me the importance of collaboration, communication, and how different people’s strengths can contribute to a successful outcome. Additionally, my time management and organisational abilities have improved, especially when balancing volunteering with schoolwork and other responsibilities when organising with my colleagues. Through volunteering, I’ve also learned a lot about myself. I’ve discovered that I thrive in environments where I can make a direct impact, and I find real satisfaction in helping others. The experience has also taught me to be more patient and adaptable, as there are often unexpected challenges in the planning process.
Final Thoughts:
Absolutely, I would highly recommend getting involved in CanTeam to others my age. Volunteering with CanTeam offers a unique opportunity to not only help those in need but also develop valuable skills that will benefit you in the future, such as leadership, teamwork, and problem-solving. It’s a chance to make a real difference in your community while also building connections with like-minded people. The experience has been incredibly rewarding for me, and I’m sure others would feel the same. If you’re looking for a way to give back and grow as a person, I encourage you to join CanTeam and get involved—there’s no better time than now to start making an impact!
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.