Why Uplift?
Uplift (Devon) CIC was set up as a community Hub open to families with young children so that they can meet, read and play in a friendly, fun space. We welcome all families and can provide free books, toys and materials for play.
The Sutton Trust reports that more than half of the gaps in achievement of children at age 11 are due to inequality that was already present at the age five and these gaps are never made up. In other words, the lifetime chances of children are largely established before the age 5. To tackle inequality, education of the young is profoundly important to level up the playing field. In recent years Sure-Start Centres, which were created to help address this problem, have been closing around the country. In addition, the COVID-19 pandemic has profoundly affected early years learning, especially in the least advantaged communities.
Uplift Mission:
- To improve the lives and life chances of children under the age of five within their families
- To develop support structures and develop high-quality, evidence-based early childhood services for families, their children and communities.

How we aim to do this:
- We have established Hubs in three towns in Mid/East Devon from which we run Uplift activities. Each centre acts as an informal community Hub for all families with young children to meet and interact.
- Each Hub has a Manager, experienced in early years childcare, whose task it is to make wide contact and integrate Uplift within the community. We listen and then react in response to local priorities in order to achieve the core Uplift mission goals.
- Each Manager communicates and collaborates with other charitable and statutory bodies so that families can be directed towards appropriate local help and support.
- Our Managers, Heidi, Jo and Daisy co-ordinate activities and the work of volunteers in the centres.
- A baby bank and provision for parents to weigh their babies are core activities at each centre.
- A wide variety of workshops and activities are organised according to local needs and priorities in order to engage children within their families and promote learning.
Uplift during Covid
- We have carried out live reading and interactive events on Facebook.
- We have had to adapt the Uplift model in the light of the Covid pandemic.
- We have provided nearly 300 baby bank bundles to young families needing assistance.
- We have built on our relationships with other community groups to support vulnerable families and continue to build on collaborations. Free hot food “on the Go” has been served from our premises in Tiverton during the pandemic in association with Tiverton Town Council and CHAT.