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IT'S TIME! Take Your Pick of UK Unplugged's Stocking Stuffers 🎅🏻🎄

Our Boxes

Eco-friendly Family Fun

Our sustainable boxes help you put down screens and focus on each other. 

• Created by Kate & Diana with help from Jennifer , Luiza

We’re taking inspiration from Dickens’ A Christmas Carol  and getting into the Christmas Spirit! 

👻Victorian Ghost Story Cards

👻A Ghostly Vanilla Soy Wax Melt

👻A Wooden Christmas Spirit Pin

👻Victorian Christmas Stickers

Each of the contents can be bought individually, but by buying in a bundle you’ll save £2!

World Culture

• Created by Lucy, Lillie, Matthew, Melissa, Hannah

Journey with us back in time to look at life on board the Titanic from the foods they ate to the games they played! We asked two University of Liverpool Lecturers to dive into the Titanic Archives for us to create something special. 

☕Make Titanic coffees and hot chocolates with our coffee stencil☕

🥐Bake Waldorf Pudding (served on the Titanic)🥐

🏒Play shuffleboard! 🏒

✍️Design every layer of your Titanic outfit ✍️

• Created by Ellen, Keris with help from Kanae

Local Japanese teacher Kanae helps our volunteers Ellen and artist Keris (Liverpool John Moores) create a magical Japan Box for those who want to dig deeper into the magical side of Japan.  

🍣Make your own Fake Sushi Kit by 3D Primo🍣

🍵Bake Matcha cookies with our Matcha sticks🍵

🎴Play Hanafuda with our specially designed cards 🎴

🦊Bring out your mischievous fox with our Kitsune pin 🦊

📴With 10 hours of Screen-free family fun📴

• Created by Kanae, Dalia & Andrine

Kanae takes us to Japan (her home country) with traditional kids games, theatre masks, sushi hacks and more! Andrine (our student artist) leads us through it with anime-style drawings! 

🎭Make Kabuki masks 🎭 

🥋Take the karate challenge🥋

🍣 Try our sushi hack🍣

🖍️with Eco-friendly colouring pencils🖍️

🐉& our exclusive, Unplugged Japanese dragon pencil case🐉

Andrine’s anime poster of our magical creatures explores tea ceremonies🍵bullet trains 🚅 and more in Japan🎎🗾.

• Created by Hannah, Alice, Rebecca and Sophie•

Available exclusively for young people on the CAMHS waiting list, we developed this box after talking to teens and the Care Navigators who work on the Wirral. Artist Hannah (Liverpool John Moores) created a cosy autumnal feel for the book.  

☕Make chai latte☕

🥐Bake Swedish cardamom buns with fresh spices donated by the Spice Kitchen🥐

🦊Colour your own folk-art fox bag charm by Shufflewoods🦊

✍️Decorate your journal with stickers & write a story based on Nordic folklore✍️

• Created by Ximena, Chio, Masirah & Ben

Calling all zoologists and adventurers! Here’s our Peru Box! Working with two Peruvian students, one artist and one researcher- we’ve brought you history, culture and lots of fun!

What’s in the Peru Box?

🦙Weave your own blanket on the back of our ‘llamamzing llama’🦙

🐆Play Animal Snap Cards with animals from Peru’s mountains, Amazon rain forest and coast🐆

👩🏽‍🍳Make traditional bread babies or Peruvian stirfry !👩🏽‍🍳

Draw Hamilton Bear and learn about Birkenhead’s connection with Peru! 

• Created by Jolie, Judy & Andrine

Explore Vietnam with our Vietnamese experts, international students Jolie and Judy and our volunteer student artist Andrine!

🐖 Create your own Yin-Yang pig puzzle: this is a New Year tradition with our own Unplugged twist (it’s usually a picture instead of a colour-in puzzle🐖
🥑 Make Avocado ice cream and other tasty Vietnamese street food! 🥑
🐊 Play Crocodile Ashore! This traditional game will definitely get you off your feet! 🐊

🕮Colour in a traditional folk tale illustrated  anime-style by Andrine that teaches about greed and community🕮

10 hours of exciting crafts, recipes, activities and games to help you learn more about Vietnamese culture- including bamboo jacks!

• Created by Jennifer

Discover Ancient Egypt, Persia, Greece and Rome in our brand new Ancient World Box!

🐎Design a chariot race 🐎

📜Write your name in hieroglyphs with papyrus from Egypt 📜

🐍Play ancient snakes and ladders and battleships 🐍

🏺Create an ancient Greek pot with air dry crafting clay from the eco-friendly Primo🏺

• Created by Loy & Andrine

Explore some of the Caribbean islands (Haiti, Dominican Republic, Cayman Islands and Jamaica) with us through recipes, crafts, games and colouring.

🍲Make food from Haiti.🍲

🌴 Play a matching game with famous people from the Caribbean 🌴

🏴‍☠️Learn about the Cayman Islands through a make-your-own pirate and turtle game.🏴‍☠️

🌞 Throw your activities in our new exclusive colour-in tote (designed by Andrine) and take it with you!🌞

SORRY, NO LONGER AVAILABLE TO BUY!
• Created by Mahsa, Aggie & Sola Arts Members •

Explore Iran with Mahsa and our friends at SOLA Arts

🗺 Explore Iran’s animals and landscapes with matching cards 🗺

🔥 Get ready for Nowruz with goldfish and fire* jumping 🔥

🥘Make some tasty Iranian dishes  🥘

✍️ Write your name in Farsi with wood we’ve repurposed from FINSA✍️

👰🏽 Make a Bride of the Rain 👰🏽 (or the sunshine as we need more of that!)

🪨And use beanbags sewn by our community to play a traditional ‘rock’ game🪨

*No ‘real’ fires are used.

• Created by Edgar, Monica, Hope & Katie

Join us on our journey to explore the unique Mexican tradition of Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) all the way from the ancient Aztecs up until present day. Edgar and Monica (who are both from Mexico) lead us through Mexican history and traditions.

⚽ Become a mesoamerican football champion ⚽

☕ Make hot chocolate using the Aztecs famous, top secret recipe! ☕

⚰ Design your dazzling nichos using Primo eco-friendly sparkle gel pens ⚰

🌟 Play Loteria – Mexican bingo with your friends and family 🌟

S.T.E.M.

Travel with us as we explore Space through food, games and crafts! The University of Liverpool’s Association for Space Engineering and Research (LASER) society worked with us to create something special!

🌙Make-your-own lunar phases and Apollo spaceship designed by Shufflewoods🌙

🌌Create a cosmic drink🌌

🚀Race to the moon with our exclusive game!🚀

👩‍🚀And try not to get stuck in space!

This is one of our most popular boxes for any age!

• Created by Hana, Nouran, Tom, Alicia, & Hannah

What work do electrical engineers do on planes? What do pilots need to check before take off?

🗺️Decorate and wire your own time zone map Shufflewoods🗺️

🔺Find planes in the Bermuda triangle🔺

🛠️Play our ‘Systems Go’ cards and test your knowledge of the 5 systems that regulate planes🛠️

🍪Make jet lag- friendly recipes!

Working with four electrical and one aerospace engineer from the University of Liverpool and an artist from Liverpool John Moores, we explore what it’s like inside the world of aviation.

• Created by Aggie & Katie

ROAR? Dinosaurs may have sounded a bit different than you think! Researched and designed by University of Liverpool Music student Aggie, hear about what dinos actually sounded like and make your own dino bone xylophone, dig for a chocolate dino fossil and play dino’s up!

🦖 Play 2 dino card games to test your skill! First Dino’s Up! Then Dino Snap! 🦖

🦕 Make a reclaimed wooden ‘Dino Bone’ xylophone! Dino-bones and bamboo have a bit in common, plus with the Dino-Kazoo in the pack you, you can start your own pre-historic band 🦕

There’s lots of sensory sounds in this box- even the recipes are crunchy (I think the T-Rexs will like that).🦖

S.T.E.M.
& Environment

SORRY, NO LONGER AVAILABLE TO BUY!
• Created by Joanna, Diana, Daniel, Luiza & Stephanie •

What pollution problems do Environmental Chemists tackle in their day jobs?

💩Construct and decorate your own poo balance game designed with Shufflewoods💩

🪸Create a coral reef theatre and learn about coral bleaching 🪸

🧪Test out the food in your pantry with some pH paper🧪

🛢️Play the oil spill clean up game and more…

Designed with help from the Royal Society of Chemistry, this kit explores the real life jobs of Environmental Chemists who work on water, air and ground pollution!

Environment

• Created by Yakshitha, Anjaly , Smrithi , Mikey & Hannah

Can we build homes that are better for people and for the planet?  Our Earth-friendly Architecture Box has you try it out with plenty of inspiration!

In this box, three architects from India, Yakshitha, Smrithi and Anjaly, and our student intern Mikey, explore different building styles and materials around the world that are sustainable, healthy and affordable, with…

🌞Sunshine Oasis House kit, Designed by Anjaly and brought to life by woodcarver Chloe Shufflewoods

🏗️Go Build Cards, Get competitive and learn about sustainable architecture in the Global South! Designed by Yakshitha with 6 different countries and their sustainable materials highlighted.

📐Create your own architectural designs for houses in Sweden, the UK, Thailand and Egypt📐

😋Build your own Brick Brownie House, with our custom- made mini-brick cutter designed with UK brick dimensions and inspired by the fabulous Pirouette house

Imagination

• Created by Niamh & Andrine

Our boxes began with the Fairy Troll World, and these magical characters (who live in Merseyside) are close to our hearts!

🐉 Add yourself to FairyTroll Trumps and play with your family 🐉

🗺 Explore our Magical Merseyside map 🗺

🦄 Be creative with extra special re-stickable stickers 🦄

🎨 Get stuck in with our eco-friendly pearlescent paint 🎨

👩‍🍳 Make crazy Troll pasta! 👨‍🍳

Get 3 Boxes for £60! • New Bundle Deal

We’ve got your staycation vacation sorted!

Pick three areas of the world to travel to and we’ll send over your itinerary!

Join us this summer in…

  • Vietnam🇻🇳
  • Japan🇯🇵
  • Caribbean (Haiti🇭🇹, Jamaica🇯🇲, the Caymans🇰🇾 and the Dominican Republic🇩🇴)
  • Mexico🇲🇽
  • Iran🇮🇷
  • Ancient World (Rome📜, Greece🏺, Persia 🏛️and Egypt🐪)

Start by choosing 3 boxes from the link below.

• Created by all

Sponsor an Amigo box and help share the fun of UK Unplugged with your community!

Every Amigo box purchased gives a family the opportunity to enjoy a magical UK Unplugged box, helping the life chances of all in our community, irrespective of background.

How does it work? We often get more requests for our boxes than we have funding for. Some of these families are in a tough spot financially or have a family member with additional needs and could use some support at home. If we can secure funding or donations, we prefer to let them choose from our boxes. Why? Because everyone is different, and some families are fascinated by Japan, while others want to deep-dive into the ancient world.

You can be confident when you give it’s giving 10 hours of high-quality, fun family time to someone in your community who will love it!

Impact Testimony

Kadar volunteered as our Marketing Lead for UK Unplugged’s Environmental Chemistry Project sponsored by the Royal Society of Chemistry, while studying Business Management at the University of Liverpool, and he felt this experience led directly to his being hired after graduation as a Graduate Project Executive.

As the marketing lead on the UK Unplugged Chemistry Project, Kadar gained essential hands-on experience. This role not only helped him develop critical skills but also instilled the confidence needed to succeed in his new position.

When asked about the benefits of volunteering with UK Unplugged, Kadar pointed to the fact that the real-world experience and community involvement it offers are unparalleled, providing an excellent foundation for anyone looking to launch their career.

Reflecting on his 3-year journey studying Business Management at the University of Liverpool, Kadar explained one of the highlights of their university experience was working closely with Diana Powell, CEO of UK Unplugged to lead the marketing for an event that promoted environmental chemistry to future generations. This project allowed Kadar to apply his academic knowledge practically and engage more deeply with the Liverpool and Wirral communities.

“I highly recommend students volunteer with Unplugged. It’s a great way to gain real-world experience to help start your career”.

77 university student interns since 2020 and countless volunteers

Sustainable Parenting Through UK Unplugged

Child squirting food colouring into a bowl to mix icing.

A parent deeply committed to sustainability connected with us in April 2020 and has remained a part of the UK Unplugged community.

Pre-Involvement Perspectives on Sustainability:
Before our engagement with UK Unplugged, our family already had a strong connection with the environment and the principles of sustainability. We actively instilled in our children the importance of mindful consumption, using reusable and plastic-free products, cultivating our own fruits and vegetables, and participating in regular litter picking activities as a family.

Impact of UK Unplugged on Sustainability Education:
Being a civil engineer with an existing interest in sustainable practices, my involvement with UK Unplugged provided me with a unique opportunity to further explore and promote sustainability within my community. The activity boxes enabled me to engage with young people and introduce sustainability concepts in a playful and accessible manner. It’s crucial that sustainability becomes ingrained in the normal habits of the younger generation, rather than an afterthought.

Significance of Sustainably Sourced Boxes:
The fact that the UK Unplugged boxes are sustainably sourced holds significant importance for our family. While these boxes may come at a higher cost compared to alternatives, we find value in supporting local businesses and contributing to our community’s resilience against corporate giants. Knowing that our purchase supports local talent and family businesses brings a sense of fulfillment that transcends mere material acquisition. The conscious decision to shop small and locally resonates deeply with us, especially when it aligns with our environmental values.

Dedication to Environmental Responsibility:
UK Unplugged, under Diana’s leadership, exemplifies a commitment to environmental responsibility that extends beyond mere rhetoric. Diana’s dedication to fostering talent, creativity, and community engagement is commendable. Her choice to deliver boxes via bicycle underscores a genuine commitment to sustainability, contrasting with superficial carbon offsetting measures adopted by larger corporations. It’s this authentic dedication that sets UK Unplugged apart, making it a beacon of sustainability within our community.

Conclusion:
Our journey with UK Unplugged has not only deepened our understanding of sustainability but has also empowered us to actively contribute to our community’s environmental well-being. Through our engagement with UK Unplugged, we’ve not only found a platform for sustainability education but also a community-driven initiative that embodies the principles we hold dear. As parents, we’re grateful for the opportunity to instill these values in our children and contribute to a more sustainable future, one UK Unplugged box at a time.

80% of kids give us 5 out of 5 stars

A Young Person Finds Hope and Reingages

Woman demonstrates Japanese calligraphy to a mum and her 2 young people, She's pointing at a book, and Ink drawings of previous people's calligraphy hang up behind her

In the realm of mental health, the struggle for timely intervention and support has long been a challenge. On average, a young person spends 40 weeks on the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) waiting list.

In 2023, the Care Navigators who support the waiting list connected us with a young person. Their story shows the profound impact that UK Unplugged boxes can have on the lives of individuals dealing with mental health issues.

At the time, this young person was struggling to leave their house. They had lost interest in their usual hobbies and their school work. UK Unplugged hand-delivered a space-themed box, which includes activities ranging from educational materials to DIY projects. This allowed the young person to discover a new set of hobbies and interests they had never considered before, and this spark of passion set the stage for positive change.

Through engaging with the thoughtfully developed activities within the boxes, the young person rekindled their desire to go outside and see the stars, which began by learning about different constellations.

Going outside had such a positive effect on the young person, and led to more confident trips outside. Eventually, this experience led to the young person going to the library and wanting to learn more about this topic, meaning they were integrating back into society and regaining a sense of community.

This brought joy to not only this young person but their family and friends too. The case of this young person exemplifies the real-life impact of UK Unplugged boxes on mental health and well-being. By providing a tangible and engaging avenue for self-discovery and exploration, the boxes became catalysts for positive change.

434 boxes donated to the CAMHS waiting list

Fostering Neurodiverse Children’s Talents

University student leans over young person drawing. The table cloth is brightly coloured with monsters and markers are spread out around the two.

A young person was struggling with emotional regulation and mental health when themselves and a family member attended a UK Unplugged event.

This young person was very shy, and often could not go to activities outside of the house, such as school. They usually struggled with focus, often moving from one uncompleted task to another, which caused family frustration and financial strain, leaving films, and events early, in an attempt to keep them entertained.

Attending UK Unplugged’s event was revelatory for the young person and their family: they stayed for the entire 2 hours and were entertained throughout the entire event, including listening to inspiring talks from students, getting involved in the activities and games, and even claiming that, despite hating science at school, they would enjoy it if their teacher did lessons like UK Unplugged!

The young person took the games played at this event and showed the rest of his family how to play at home, providing fun for the entire family.

The parent of this child said, ‘in other settings, our children are noticed for what they are struggling with rather than what they’re interested in, […] I just wish more people would go out of their way to look for, encourage and grow these things in our amazing children’.

50% of families we interact with have a SEND member