About Us

We are UK Unplugged.

We create opportunities for families to create, explore and unplug.

Our Story

UK Unplugged began in 2019 as a local community group dedicated to helping parents and carers balance their family’s time on and off screens.

Our aim was to make ‘unplugging’ both easy and cool! Through fun events and quality, learning-through-play boxes, we inspire carers, children and teens to explore, create and unplug together.

Our Product

Our boxes and events emphasise important future skills for children and young people:

Screen balance, face-to-face communication, collaboration, and problem solving

We include local craftspeople and artisans in the development of our projects, so we can showcase the best local talent and create something truly unique.

Our Team

Behind the boxes are professional and student volunteers, who are supported by our educational experts. By working together we create learning through play activities, and volunteers gain skills and experiences, as well as a deeper connection to their community.

So, if you’re up for exploring countries with one of our international student guides, or learning about civil engineering with one of our local, civic engineers – we’re your people!

Our Aims

1. Unplug from Screens

Technology has been a great societal transformer, often defining how we work, study, play, keep in touch and relax. During the most recent coronavirus pandemic, technology’s influence has, perhaps, never been so apparent — and we understand the great potential technology has for people and the planet.

But striking a balance between screen-on and screen-off time can be difficult. Overusing technology can elevate our stress levels, limit our connection with others and restrict our creative thinking. Finding a balance of screen-on and screen-off time is essential, especially so for our youngest members of society, who know no world without technology. We unplug, not just to take time out of tech, but to also think outside the box and prepare children for the world of tomorrow.

2. Create Creators

Whether it’s building cereal box top hats, making clay monsters, decorating Day of the Dead cookies or painting pirate flags out of old fabric, being creative helps us to unwind and gives us a sense of achievement. And by reusing materials wherever possible, we’re giving a new lease of life to the once discarded – and doing part of our bit for the planet, too.

We don’t limit imagination or ability. A heart-polka dotted dog? Sure! A dragon bookmark instead of a farm animal? Excellent! The sky really is the limit.

3. Connect Communities

Many people have felt lonely before, but making new friends or talking to new people can be intimidating. We’ve seen how children of different ages and, yes, adults too (including mothers, fathers, grandparents and guardians) have made connections at UK Unplugged over a craft or a cuppa, and we want to encourage this even more!

We’re also keen on connecting people to a wide range of cultures & ideas to enable the critical development of important global skills.

In short, we work to bring our local, regional and international communities together, sharing common experiences and learning new things, too.

What We Do

A process diagram that shows how we start with ideas from volunteers and the public and then collaborate to develop the box and event

Commitment to Sustainability

We believe in creating a better future—for people and the planet—through conscious choices and creative reuse. Sustainability is at the heart of everything we do.

We use recycled and responsibly sourced materials, including FSC-certified wood, and partner with local makers to keep our carbon footprint low. Included in our educational kits and events are topics like environmental chemistry, conservation, and earth-friendly architecture, empowering others to care for our world.

Our approach celebrates reuse—transforming what others might discard into lasting, meaningful creations. From offcuts of wood and leftover fabric to donated craft supplies, we give new life to materials while inspiring long-term thinking around consumption and waste.

We proudly source eco-friendly paper, fabric, and wood from local sustainable businesses, and we deliver everything by bike across the Wirral. Every product, every box, and every event is a step toward more mindful making and living.

A message from Diana

In 2001, having never lived abroad, I took my first teaching job in Thailand, and in 2005, without knowing anyone in Liverpool, I moved there.

I didn’t think of myself as brave at the time, but now I realise how much I took on (but also how much it gave me in return). Through learning new customs, languages, cuisines, rationales and practices, I gained flexibility, resilience and problem solving skills.

In each box we create for families, I want to spark that joy of discovery: the active, tangible exploration of new topics, ideas and cultures through play.

Dr Diana Powell – CEO and founder of UK Unplugged