Blog 7 – Innovation and Social Mobility: Two Sides of the Same Coin
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We hear the term “social mobility” everywhere these days.
But what does it really mean?
Is it just a government target?
A paragraph in a report?
Or is it something you feel, deep down, when you’re a child sitting in a classroom, quietly wondering:
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“Why didn’t Santa bring me the same presents my mates got?”
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“Why can’t I go on that school trip?”
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“Why does college feel like a dream just out of reach because of the money?”
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“Why does my friend have a garden and a bedroom all to themselves?”
I remember it vividly.
Being handed a card at primary school that allowed me to get school meals.
I didn’t fully understand it back then.
All I knew was that it marked me out as different, a quiet separation from my friends that nobody needed to explain.
My parents worked tirelessly to provide for us.
They weren’t lazy.
They weren’t asking for handouts.
They were fighting, every single day, for a better future for their kids.
My dad worked 12-hour shifts in a chemical plant, three 12-hour day shifts, straight into three 12-hour night shifts.
He went through redundancy not once, but twice.
Still, somehow, he found a way.
I remember the Christmas I got a BMX, even though he had been made redundant in the autumn.
We used to tease Mum when she told us that, as a child, she could not understand why her colouring books already had pages coloured in.
Now, looking back as a parent myself, I realise just how much sacrifice that bike represented.
My parents were the first in our family to own their own house, a milestone they fought hard for, believing that life could be better for us than it had been for them.
I left school with two GCSEs to my name.
But what my parents gave me, belief, work ethic, resilience, was far greater.
That’s social mobility.
Not just moving up the ladder, but moving forward.
Making sure the next generation has a better chance than the last.
At CHEXS, that belief is not just personal, it’s built into the very foundation of who we are.
Photo by @GETTY Images
Objective 1 of our Constitution is clear:
“To support social inclusion and social mobility for the benefit of children, young people, families and communities through the provision of innovative services and activities supporting people’s wellbeing, helping raise aspirations and life chances.”
This isn’t just a nice idea for us; it’s a legal duty.
It’s the beating heart of what we do at CHEXS
It’s all about making sure that the incredible schools with the opportunities to give an education to all are embraced wholeheartedly.
We find ways to inspire children to seize the opportunities they have.
But it’s more than that, it’s also about creating more opportunities that are currently for the few, so everyone with the talent, passion, and enthusiasm can pursue paths that will give them meaning and purpose.Parliamentary Committees
Photo by @sergeynovikov
What:
CHEXS is dedicated to empowering children, young people, and families through teamwork and leadership initiatives in schools and the wider community.
Diversity is a fact in our communities; embracing it is essential to unlocking potential.
Why:
Equity is a choice.
It ensures every child and young person has access to opportunities that nurture leadership skills, resilience, and personal growth.
By choosing equity, we ensure all voices are heard, valued, and celebrated.
How:
Through dynamic activities like the maze challenge, tube game, and cup stacking, children develop critical skills such as communication, teamwork, leadership, and active listening.
Our Role Model Programme extends this further, creating opportunities for young people to mentor younger peers in art, gardening, and other practical skills.
Inclusion is our action: we create spaces where every child can participate, contribute, and lead.
When:
These programmes run throughout the school year, during evenings, and in the holidays, providing ongoing opportunities to build confidence, leadership, and connection.
As the outcomes unfold, belonging becomes the natural result—granting each young person a safe, supported environment to thrive and flourish.
The latest report from the Social Mobility Commission only confirms what we have seen first hand:
“If we do not invest now in inclusive programmes that unlock the potential of every young person, we will lose a generation of talent.”
At CHEXS, we refuse to let that happen.
We invite anyone who shares this passion to come and see first hand the difference real, local social mobility looks like, one child, one family, one future at a time.
