Looking to support Step One? Get creative with your donations!

byLauren/February 5, 2024/inNews

Step One staff at supported living residence

When you think about donating to a charity, you probably think about donating things you no longer need to a charity shop or making a cash donation. But there are so many other ways you can support your local charity!

Giving your time, or volunteering your services, are an invaluable gift to charities who face many challenges while supporting people in desperate need during the pandemic. We have been overwhelmed by the efforts people have gone to support us over the past few months.

Simon, part of our facilities team, has been donating his time outside of his working hours. He has been joined by his brother, Steve, who has also given his spare time to support Step One. Together, they have shown amazing dedication to decorate and refurbish one of our supported living houses in Newton Abbot. Over the past few months, Simon and Steve have been working tirelessly to paint and decorate a five-bedroomed property within our supported living scheme. Through volunteering their services Simon and Steve, have donated hundreds of pounds to Step One with their specialist skills.

Ed, from our Community Support Services team, said:

Thanks to the hard work and dedication of Simon and Steve, this supported living property has been decorated and repaired to a high standard. The old office en-suite conversion has meant an extra communal bathroom is available for the residents and an extra bedroom is now ready for a new person to move into. The house feels lighter and more friendly and is a perfect environment to support people in achieving positive outcomes.”

As part of the refurbishment, Step One has also been gifted £350 of flooring by Newton Abbot retailer, Flooring Superstore, as part of their corporate social responsibility programme. Step One was chosen as the Charity of the Year for Flooring Superstore when they opened their store on the Kingsteignton Trading Estate in September 2019. This donation marks the continued support of Step One by the Flooring Superstore.

Flooring Superstore Regional Manager, Ian Robinson, said:

“We were delighted to be able to support Step One Charity. They are a local charity doing tremendous work in Newton Abbot and across Devon, helping people to improve their mental health and wellbeing.

With Covid-19 and the general awareness when it comes to mental health, there’s never been a more important need for charities like Step One Charity, and we are proud to be associated with them.”

Donations such as these mean that valuable funds can be spent on frontline services in supporting people with mental health concerns to continue to take steps in their recovery and work towards managing their mental health, and developing their independent living skills.

Sarah Ellis, Step One’s Charity Community Services Manager, said:

“Donations like this are always gratefully received and it means that rather than spending all our money on flooring, we were able to divert funds elsewhere so they can make a real difference to people’s lives. “We would like to thank Flooring Superstore for helping us renovate our supported housing scheme in Newton Abbot.”