Empowering Individuals with Barriers to Learning & Employment and People with Learning Disabilities to Thrive in Life and Work
What we do
Employment & Training
We believe everyone should have the same opportunities to succeed in life and work. Our Employment & Training service provides support to individuals who experience barriers to employment. Our team supports people who are neurodiverse, including individuals with autism, ADHD, dyslexia, and those with mental health challenges and other barriers to employment.
What we offer:
- Tailored support to pursue career goals, look for work, and apply for jobs.
- Training and skills development to build confidence, gain qualifications, and enhance career opportunities
- Employment academies offering job-ready training with guaranteed interviews and the meet-the-employer sessions pre-interview
- Fast track to employment offering a guaranteed interview
- On the job, support working closely with employers to make reasonable adjustments, supporting recruits into roles
Our employer partnerships offer lots of different opportunities across various industries such as retail, catering, hospitality, manufacturing, and customer service.
Employer Partnerships
We partner with employers to recruit and retain a talented, diverse, and inclusive workforce.
We know that hiring managers are focused on finding the right talent and keeping them. When candidates who face barriers to employment receive the support they need, they don’t just get hired, they thrive. We work with employers to recruit talented individuals to strengthen teams and drive long-term value for organisations. We are driven by our vision of a socially enriched world, working with our employer partners to build inclusive and diverse workforces.
Stories
Employer Collaborations and Clients
The true measure of our success lies in the stories of those we support and from those who support us. Our clients, partners, and the individuals whose lives we touch inspire us every day.
Stories and testimonials reflect the transformative power of meaningful training, employment, and the incredible partnerships we’ve built along the way.
Our trainees’ and clients’ journeys are filled with resilience, growth, and achievement. Through tailored support, they gain the skills, confidence, and independence needed to succeed throughout life and in the workplace. The testimonials from our employer partners show the positive impact neurodiverse individuals can bring to the workforce, helping to foster inclusivity and diversity. We are exceptionally proud of all that we do and what we have achieved.
Stepping Stones NI has consistently provided a safe, empowering environment which has nurtured the development of social relationships and work skills for my son. He can feel relaxed with all staff working in Stepping Stones NI, knowing that they will actively listen to him and will both encourage and support him to achieve as much as he can.
Mary MacDonnell, Parent
Working with Stepping Stones NI has helped us with our strategy of recruiting within local communities. We have a strong relationship with them and together have helped people find employment who have since gone from strength to strength here at EE. We look forward to doing more collaborative work together!
Manpreet Chand, EE
The staff have been very good it is clear to see that they all do care about their clients and are interested in seeing them do well and to better themselves.
Peter Mailey, Henderson Retail
Stepping Stones NI played a crucial role in helping me move forward in my career. The dedication and support shown by every team member was truly exceptional. Transitioning from being unemployed to securing a fulfilling job at HCLTech has exceeded my expectations, and I couldn’t have done it without this amazing team. I am very much thankful for the guidance and support to start this journey.
Shalini Prasad, Employment Academy Participant
About Stepping Stones NI
Founded in 1996
In 1996, a group of dedicated parents, carers, and local business leaders partnered with the health trust to establish Stepping Stones NI. Their shared vision was to create meaningful training opportunities for individuals with learning disabilities, empowering them to access greater opportunities for employment and independence.
We have come a long way since then, establishing six social enterprises which include three cafes, a bespoke wedding stationery business, a guild-commended picture framing business, and a new horticulture and wellbeing hub at Navigation House. Each business serves as a realistic training platform for our trainees, with 100% of our customers’ money reinvested to support our work.
We support people who face all kinds of barriers to employment, including learning difficulties, autism, ADHD, dyslexia, mental health, and other barriers across Northern Ireland.
Latest News
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Every donation, no matter the size, helps us create more opportunities for people with learning disabilities and difficulties to build a brighter future. Donate below through our JustGivingTM page.
