The I Can & I Am Bus
In 2020 I Can & I Am gratefully received a fully converted London double decker bus from the company Howdens. This enabled us to hugely step up our involvement with young people. The I Can & I Am team visit schools around the South West on the bus working with pupils and staff, providing valuable tools to help improve self-esteem maintain good mental health. Presentations from the I Can & I Am team are combined with pizza making and wellbeing workshops on the bus.
Our mission at I Can & I Am is to enable those we work with to recognise their own balloon and give them the tools to keep it inflated. The strength of this message is that it’s simple.
What happens on the bus?
The bus visits schools, charities, universities and businesses around the south west for one or more days. With a fully fitted kitchen downstairs and casual seating upstairs we provide a combination of hands-on baking followed by small group workshops. The baking sessions involve making bread or pizza – activities that stimulate a sense of togetherness and creativity. Small group workshops are run by our facilitators on the top deck of the bus.
Above all, everything is underpinned by fun, positivity, empathy, and passion for what we do. We are experienced and empathetic professionals who understand young people and how life can sometimes be difficult. Therefore, the emphasis is always on finding ways to move forward positively.
The Stats
- The average ‘Tripadvisor’ score from young people who spend time on the bus is 4.8 out of 5.
- 70% cite either ‘talking’ or ‘learning’ as the most useful thing about their time on board the bus (more useful than eating pizza!)
- 74% report having higher self-belief when they leave the bus than when they arrive.
This one minute film demonstrates the impact a visit by the I Can & I Am bus can make.
The ‘I Can and I Am’ team leave an indelible mark on a school community. They are inspirational. Pizzas hook the children in, but what follows is profound, life-enhancing and not often found in a school curriculum. This is real learning. This is real education.
That was the best school day that I’ve had throughout the six years that I’ve been here!
Thank you for bringing the I Can & I Am magic to our school! Your charity is so brilliant and the bus was super cool! I loved meeting the dog, hearing the presentation and I definitely feel more confident. Thank you!
Thank you for working with Charlie on your bus today. Incredibly, he came off the bus and went to the first lesson that he’s attended all term.
A short video outlining what happens on board the bus