Every summer, Bite Back hosts a residential trip for all our young activists to come together for a weekend of fun and learning — from engaging workshops and creative craftivism to heartfelt storytelling — to empower them for the year of activism ahead. In this blog, two of our youth activists look back on the long weekend and how it has shaped their Bite Back journey. Srilakshmi reflects on how this residential experience adds to previous Bite Back ones, and Zainab S reflects on her first-ever residential, as one of our newest young activists.

The Journey Begins

Sri: Heading into the weekend, with results day looming, the residential seemed like a good time to stop, take a moment, and assess the coming year. I didn’t think for a second that it would be one of the busiest, most rewarding weekends of the year.

Zainab: I had never met the Bite Back family before, and this was the perfect time to meet everyone! It was an amazing experience and nothing like I expected it to be. The 5-hour-plus journey was tiring, but 100% worth it. The people I had only met behind a screen came to life!

Meeting the Bite Back family

Sri: There are very few other times when I get the opportunity to be surrounded by people who care about the same things and have similar ideas to me. However long the year feels, residential gives me the opportunity to celebrate everything we have achieved and reconnect with some of the people who make my time at Bite Back so special.

Zainab: One of the most important things about the residential to me was the opportunity to learn about everyone's different Bite Back experiences across the country and meet those who were equally as passionate as I. I was so happy to meet the rest of the Bite Back family and to gain the chance to learn more about our mission and values.

Sri (in the foreground) walking to the next activity with fellow activist Yacub.

What Happens At The Summer Residential?

Sri: Through the whirlwind of experiences, the feeling that ran through everything was the same: togetherness. From laser tag to pizza making, there wasn’t a second where I wasn’t connected with someone else. Whether it was liking the same toppings, being shot at by the same person, or participating in the same workshop: the feeling of shared purpose, and shared excitement, permeated the entire weekend.

Something I find especially unique about residential is how much the staff gets involved alongside the youth. Beyond their tireless work in organising activities, and shuttling us from one place to another, they bring a level of liveliness that was apparent in nobody more than ‘Baroness Whiteman’. The mock interview with Nicki, Bite Back’s Chief Brand Officer, as our severe, sarcastic aristocrat was the perfect example of everything the residential is: the perfect combination of work and play. We were able to put all our work on framing and bridging to good use, while also trying not to laugh at the character we were interviewing, with incredible support from our friends and colleagues. The atmosphere in that room, and of the whole weekend, is what makes residential the truly transformative experience that it always is.

Zainab: I had an excellent time with the workshops highlighting the power of junk food giants and was shocked to learn about the huge impact they have on young people's lives. I thoroughly enjoyed the active side such as our campfire, laser quest (my favourite), and our night walk. Having this combination of work and play allowed me to immerse myself in the Bite Back mission, all while making lots of new friends.

Powering up our activism

Sri: When I joined Bite Back, it had scarcely been two weeks before I was off on my first residential, in rain-soaked Wales. I barely understood how youth activism worked; the person who went on that residential would barely recognise my experience with this one. Residential has been absolutely critical in my journey as an activist, reminding me each year of our passionate, vibrant community, all of whom are on their own journeys.

Zainab: Everyone had such a positive energy towards being an activist and highlighting the change that has to be made. I immediately felt part of the Bite Back family and now I am so excited to get more involved with Bite Back!

Our Message To Other Youth Activists

Sri: If I could use one experience at Bite Back to convince people to join, it’d be residential. I think our faces in the group photos say enough, but to put it in words, it’s the people that make it so special. As cliche as it may sound, it is the friendships and connections that I’ve made at residential that have helped me develop both as an activist and as a person — and I can’t wait until the next one!

Zainab: I’ve learnt a lot through the residential and the amazing workshops delivered by the staff team. I got a great insight into what the future of Bite Back holds for me, and can’t wait to see where I go next!