Uplift: Our Promise. Young People Over Profit

A not-for-profit commitment to reinvest in wellbeing, opportunity and brighter futures for young people in the North East.

At Sanderson Education Hub, we believe that education should be built around young people — not profit. As we transition into a not-for-profit Community Interest Company (CIC limited by guarantee), we’re embedding that belief into our legal structure. This allows us to grow the support we’ve already begun through Uplift: our expanding commitment to reinvesting in the wellbeing, progress, and long-term outcomes of young people and families in our community, especially those facing the greatest barriers.

We understand that many young people in the North East face complex, systemic challenges — shaped by poverty, trauma, disability, or disadvantage that can span generations. Uplift is our way of stepping into that gap: using surplus income, grant funding, and external support not just to sustain services, but to enhance, extend and expand what’s possible.

Uplift Now:

Right now, Uplift primarily supports the families we already work with, as well as the wider community through our free online workshops. So far, this has included:

Free or subsidised tuition, mentoring, or social opportunities for families who wouldn’t otherwise be able to access them
Practical support for those already in provision — from Blue Badge applications and diagnostic support letters to liaising with schools to help secure appropriate accommodations
Enrichment opportunities that go beyond the curriculum — such as funding a gardener so a disabled family could enjoy their garden over summer, or covering the cost of a private falconry session as part of an interest-led project for a learner with social anxiety
Free online workshops (available to anyone) to help families navigate systems like DLA, EHCPs, and diagnostic pathways — with more planned in future.

Uplift Future:

Our vision is long-term. We want to build a hub of support where young people feel safe, seen, and supported — and where families know they’re not alone. Uplift is our commitment to keep building something bigger than ourselves.

To increase our reach and impact, we’re developing partnerships with like-minded organisations to co-create inclusive opportunities — such as therapeutic referrals, access to nature, and creative group programmes.

As our CIC grows, we also plan to launch targeted projects for specific cohorts of young people who face significant barriers, including those who are care-experienced, have a parent in the prison system, are young carers or those impacted by domestic violence. Through these initiatives, we aim to break cycles and build connection, trust, and opportunity.

If you’re part of an organisation or charity with a vision that aligns with ours, we’d love to hear from you. Together, we can do more.

Uplift: The People Behind The Movement

Our Advisory Board

Our Advisory Board is made up of professionals who bring both expertise and lived experience to their role.

It is comprised of a range of professionals such as a Director of a local Occupational Therapy service, a Local Authority Early Years SENCO and Deputy Heads.

This is a voluntary role, undertaken by individuals who see the value in our mission and have a genuine commitment to improving outcomes for young people, especially those who face who face barriers to education.

Our Advisory Board meets quarterly to offer strategic insight, challenge our thinking, and help shape the direction of our work.

Advisory Board: Youth Voice

We reserve a dedicated seat on our Advisory Board for youth voice, filled annually by a young adult aged 19-25, especially welcoming applications from someone with lived experience of barriers to education.

Our Youth Voice Seat not only ensures we are guided by the perspectives of those our work is designed to serve, but also reflects our wider ethos: creating meaningful opportunities for growth, confidence, and inclusion.

The role includes a structured coaching and development package, with personalised 1:1 support before and after each meeting. This ensures that the experience is not only accessible, but empowering — building skills in leadership, communication, and self-advocacy for the future.

Our Board of Directors

Our Board of Directors is made up of individuals who share our commitment to improving outcomes for young people and families.

This is a voluntary role, but one that carries legal responsibility for ensuring Sanderson Education Hub is well-governed, financially responsible, and delivering on our mission.

Our directors help shape strategic decisions, oversee the use of funds, and ensure we remain accountable to the communities we serve.

Their role is to make sure that any surplus is used to maximise our social impact and that our work remains sustainable, ethical, and meaningful.