Supporting Young People to Lead Through Volunteering

Supporting Young People to Lead through Volunteering

Supporting Young People to Lead Through Volunteering

CanTeam, launched by Future Foundations CEO Jonathan Harper, is transforming school canteens into community hubs where young people and families can dine and thrive together. Big Change backed Jonathan's idea through the 2024 Big Education Challenge, enabling pilots across England that show what’s possible when young people lead.

For Volunteer Week, I want to ask: what if a school canteen could be more than just a place to eat lunch, what if it could become the heart of the community?

That’s exactly what CanTeam is setting out to do, with the help of student volunteers we call the Crew.

In this blog, I want to share in their own words how volunteering with CanTeam has transformed students’ confidence, leadership and sense of connection to their schools and communities.

CanTeam is an after-school social dining initiative, co-designed with young people, that brings students and their families together to enjoy affordable, nutritious meals and shared activities in a warm, welcoming environment.

What makes CanTeam so powerful is that it’s not just for young people. It’s led by them.

Growing Skills Through Action

From the very first planning session, students take the lead. Davina, a student at Bedford Academy, reflected: “We had a lot more creative control over how the events were run… this responsibility was new to me but gave me great pride.”

Aliyah, a student at Haberdashers’ Hatcham College, said: “It was a challenging but rewarding experience that taught me invaluable skills in leadership and problem-solving. Being a part of CanTeam has not only helped me grow personally but has also allowed me to contribute meaningfully to the elderly community in my area.”

A young woman pours a drink at a community event

Others, like Chloe, Bedford Academy, found a lasting drive to help others: “The CanTeam event has helped me to go and ask others if they need assistance… I’ve seen the positive outcome it has in others thanks to my experience.”

With staff support, students start with simple roles like setting up or welcoming guests and quickly grow in confidence: like the student who stepped up to deliver a last-minute welcome speech when a speaker dropped out.

Joy, Connection, and Carnival Spirit

A visiting food writer, Nick Hughes observed: “A feature of the event is the near carnival atmosphere in the canteen… enthusiastic student volunteers in canary yellow t-shirts register attendees at the door. Younger children scurry around completing a quiz, while giant Jenga and karaoke have proved popular entertainment.” Read more on the Foodservice Footprint website.

For many, volunteering with CanTeam becomes more than a one-off. Rayan, volunteered almost every week for 19 events at her school. “I have a newfound passion for volunteering, realising the profound impact that small acts of kindness can have on individuals and communities alike,” said Rayan (middle, picture below), Ark Burlington Danes Academy.

The impact, I believe, goes far beyond the young people and the meals themselves. One older guest shared that she usually avoids taking the bus at 4pm, feeling intimidated by groups of teenagers. But after attending a CanTeam dinner, she said she’d think differently next time.

For me, this is what CanTeam is all about, showing the powerful impact of students volunteering, leading and building meaningful connections within their local community.

Join Our Mission

We are on a bold mission: to launch more CanTeam Hubs in schools than there are McDonald’s by 2030. In the words of one of our student volunteers: “There shouldn’t be a doubt in your mind about getting involved in CanTeam – even the simplest gesture, like setting up a table, brings benefit to you and those around you.”

If you would like to find out more and get involved, visit our website.

Thank You to Big Change

I would like to say a big thank you to Big Change for their support enabling me to turn an idea I’ve had since 2017 into reality. In May 2023, Big Change awarded us grant funding to develop the CanTeam concept and consult with students, parents and educators ahead of our first pilots. Then, in January 2024, CanTeam was selected as a winner of the Big Education Challenge.

With their funding and partnership, we’ve piloted CanTeam across England, launching in primary and secondary schools in Bedford, Shropshire, Durham and beyond, turning a bold idea into a growing national movement.

This year, in partnership with Bite Back, we awarded grants to 8 more schools to support their own CanTeam events.

Thanks to Big Change’s belief and backing, our network of young volunteers is growing and so is our impact. Together, we have shown what’s possible when young people are trusted to lead.

Photos: Haberdashers Hatcham College, Bedford Academy, and Ark Burlington Danes Academy CanTeam Crews