We recently partnered with youth development organisation Future Foundations to bring CanTeam – a pupil-led community initiative – to North Durham Academy in County Durham.
Designed to challenge the perception of school as just a place for lessons, the programme transformed the school canteen over six weeks into a vibrant after-hours community hub.
CanTeam helps pupils feel more connected to their peers, teachers, and wider community by giving them ownership, responsibility, and the opportunity to be part of something bigger. Each Wednesday evening, families were invited into school to enjoy nutritious meals served by Year 10 pupils, including bhaji burgers, butterbean stews and chicken yakisoba.
Through mentoring pupils, they took on roles from project manager to photographer and collaborated to bring their vision to life. They organised and presented activities such as bingo and quizzes, wrote and delivered speeches, and welcomed guests with drinks and wordsearches.
Craig Routledge, Regional Manager at Chartwells, said: “At Chartwells, we’re passionate about more than just providing fantastic food – we want to help inspire lifelong healthy habits and empower pupils to take ownership of their choices. CanTeam is all about giving young people a platform to lead, and it’s been brilliant to see the North Durham Academy pupils embrace that challenge and grow in confidence along the way.”
The feedback from pupils and families was overwhelmingly positive. Across the six events, there were 402 registered guests, 363 meals served, and 97% of people said yes or maybe to more CanTeam events. Nearly half of attendees said their perceptions of food were positively changed, and 33% said their perceptions of school had positively changed, showing the impact the initiative can have on the pupils.
Mark Gray, Headteacher at North Durham Academy, said: “CanTeam has been so much more than a food programme. Now more than ever, amid the cost of living crisis, it’s incredibly important to offer a space where we can enjoy nutritious food and build meaningful connections. Initiatives like CanTeam are fundamental in easing the transition from primary to secondary school, giving our younger pupils the chance to build confidence, form friendships, and feel a real sense of pride and belonging within the school community.”
One parent said: “The event has helped my son try foods he would normally avoid, and we've really enjoyed being part of it. It’s made us realise how delicious and exciting school dinners can be.”
CanTeam was launched and piloted by Future Foundations in 2023 with funding from Big Change, who fund and support projects that ensure all young people thrive in life. The idea to launch at North Durham Academy came out of an initial workshop designed by Professor Greta Defeyter OBE, as part of a broader mission to reimagine school food and communities.
The initiative forms part of our broader education and community engagement strategy in County Durham. Since winning a major contract in 2022 to deliver catering across 160 local primary schools, we have launched our community-focused North East brand – providing a living wage for employees and driving education and engagement with pupils, parents, and the wider community through a programme of educational sessions and skills workshops.
Shenel Shefik, Associate at Future Foundations, said: “We were delighted to deliver CanTeam at North Durham Academy, and see pupils take ownership of creating something special for their school and community. From the initial workshop, pupils voiced their desire to try more of the menu without the financial commitment. Chartwells listened, and together, we empowered pupils to bring families together over food. Many of the pupils started out shy, but by the end of the evening, they were running the show – keeping the energy high with music, quizzes, and exciting prizes. It was inspiring to see pupils not just build their social and leadership skills, but build community.”
This is the latest in a series of workshops, events, and digital engagement sessions delivered as part of our mission to educate one million children and young people about sustainability by 2030.