History of UDC
Founded in 1997 and still evolving, find out more about where we’ve come from.
1997
Registered charity, founded in 1997. Previously known as Paul Griffiths Ministries, the charity was formed to oversee the work of its founder. Later becoming abbreviated to PGM the work included itinerant speaking, lecturing, a radio broadcast on TWR and writing books. Paul was passionate about equipping the church to start meaningful dialogue with those outside of the church. He believed the church needed to think differently about mission so set about incorporating conversational resources and courses around happiness as means to help people start exploring the big and not so big questions of life.
2010
Change of name to The Ugly Duckling Company to reflect growth in the charity and its vision and purpose to bring transformation to peoples lives.
2011
First Table Talk packs published with Table Talk for Friends and Table Talk for Blokes. The Eight Secrets of Happiness course piloted in two local colleges (the catalyst for The Happiness Lab)
2012
Puzzling Questions published
2013
Offices open in Lydney, Gloucestershire. Table Talk range expanded.
2014
Table Talk apps developed
2016
Additional resources developed with The Happiness Lab published at the beginning of the year and Resolve at the end. UDC moved offices to Aylburton, Gloucestershire
2017
UDC became a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO).
Sadly, in October UDC’s Founder and Director passed away. The team continued his vision.
2021
10:10 for Youth was published and work on a new Resource called Koble began taking shape. Work on New Table Talk packs continued.
2023
We created a range of new Table Talk packs for early years, children and young people adding to other new packs that had been published in the previous years. We moved our head office and warehouse to Ross on Wye in Herefordshire.
2024
We created 10:10 for Children meaning we now had both courses and Table Talk packs for all ages. Table Talk for Students became available in print. We partnered with Urban Saints to host our 10:10 Youth resource on their website. Many of courses were made available digitally not just in print.
2025
Today we continue the legacy of our founder in stimulating life changing conversations in the UK and beyond. 2025 is a busy year as we prepare to launch two brand new resources.