Smart solutions from Stepping Stones NI

Stepping Stones NI has been providing life changing services to people for over 12 years currently supporting 140 people with learning disabilities or learning difficulties.

The aim Stepping Stones is  to enable people with learning disabilities and learning difficulties to achieve employment opportunities through a range of training opportunities delivered through its social enterprise and employment services.

We do this by:

• Transition services delivered through Park View Special School and Beechlawn School in Lisburn to school leavers
• Delivering accredited training courses – Independent Travel Training, NVQ programmes in catering, Health and Safety, Food Safety Awareness
• Supporting young people in careers advice and employment services
• Advancing the work skills of young people through its social enterprises – the Avenue Coffee shop, Stepping Stones Coffee Shop, Pink Elephant Cards and Picture Framing.
• Working with employers in the Lisburn area advancing employment opportunities for young people.

Stepping Stones makes an impact to the lives of people with learning disabilities and learning disabilities by nourishing the talents and work skills of young people through its training and support so that they can get job and participate actively in their local communities.  Without our service young people living in Lisburn would have no support or no opportunity to access training towards employment  living  as equal citizens.

Gillian’s Story

Gillian started a training place in catering in Stepping Stones Coffee Shop in October 2009 whilst attending statutory day care provided by the Trust.  Quickly Gillian settled into her new role as she had never had the opportunity to work before.

Gillian is now working towards achieving her NVQ Level 1 in Food Preparation. This is fantastic news for Gillian.

She has exceeded all her expectations and those of her family. Gillian’s vocational support worker in Stepping Stones has no doubt that she will achieve her NVQ in Food Preparation and that she will prosper in the catering sector in the future. 

This is what Gillian has to say:

“Stepping Stones means everything to me it is going to help me to get a job and get paid and when I pass my NVQ I will get a job.  I like cooking and preparing food and making food for customers”   Sept 2010

Samuel's Story

Samuel is a very valued client of Stepping Stones.

From commencing as a trainee on leaving school he has successfully developed his work skills in the social enterprises at Stepping Stones - Picture Framing, and Pink Elephant Cards with achievements in accredited Independent Travel training course and NVQ level 1 in retail.

Samuel whilst accessing the training service at Stepping Stones also became a client of the Employment Service and following work placements and work trails he was supported to achieve part-time paid employment as a General Assistant at Sainsburys, Sprucefield, Lisburn.  

“I like it here; I have been here over a year. I have learnt a lot of new things and made new friends,” said Samuel.

“Samuel has proven to be great at his job and both colleagues and customers alike say what a great help he is and how much they enjoy working with him. We are delighted to have Samuel on board; he is an enthusiastic, well motivated colleague and a pleasure to work with.”

 — Sainsbury’s Sprucefield team

Find out more about Stepping Stones at www.stepping-stones.org.uk.