About Us
In 1996, a group of dedicated parents, carers, and business leaders from Lisburn partnered with the South Eastern Health Trust to establish Stepping Stones NI.
Their goal was to provide meaningful training for individuals with learning disabilities, creating greater opportunities for employment.
We have grown extensively since then having expanded our work across Northern Ireland. Over the last 27 years we have developed more services and designed new programmes to cater for a wider group of people with different needs and goals.
Today we operate six social enterprises which serve as realistic training platforms for people with learning disabilities to gain new skills and qualifications. These include three cafes, a wedding stationery and picture framing business and a horticulture and well-being hub.
Our employment and training service supports people who experience barriers to learning and employment. We offer tailored support to people who are neurodiverse, including individuals who have autism, ADHD, dyslexia or those who experience mental health challenges and other barriers to find work and stay in work.
Our Youth Service supports young people 16-24 to develop their social skills, gain training and work experience.
Our Vision
Our Values
Respect
We respect everyone’s right to a life more fulfilled and respect each other in the process
Inspire
We inspire employers and the wider community to see disability differently
Empowering
We empower each other to make a positive impact on the world and in the organisation, we work.
Our Behaviours
Driven
We are driven, seizing every opportunity to create better lives
Honest
We are honest and always do the right thing
Positively Charged
We are positively charged and passionate to make
things possible.
Nurturing
We Nurture all our People to be their best
Quality Focused
We are quality focused, to always ensure the highest
standard.
Our Purpose
With Thanks for Our Funders
At Stepping Stones NI, our work wouldn’t be possible without the generous support of our funders and partners.
We’re incredibly grateful to all our funders, including the South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust, which supports placements for people with learning disabilities in our social enterprises. These placements provide hands-on training and real-world work experience, helping individuals build confidence, develop skills, and find sustainable employment.
In April 2023, we secured funding from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. This, in partnership with Triangle Housing Association, The Appleby Trust, Access to Employment Ltd, and Compass Advocacy Network, enabled us to launch the Prosper Programme. This new initiative opens even more doors for individuals to achieve their potential.
We are grateful for support from Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council and Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council funding programmes such as the Labour Market Partnerships to support even more people into employment.
Thanks to the ongoing support of our funders and partners, we are able to create a lasting impact on the lives of the people that we support and the communities which they live.
Our Funders
Our People
Senior Management Team
Paula Jennings
Emmett Mullally
Ciara Brennan
Jenna Pike
Alice O’Kane
Carla Frazer
Social Enterprises
We operate six social enterprises which include three cafes, wedding stationery and picture framing businesses and a horticulture and wellbeing hub at Navigation House.
Navigation House
The Gatelodge Café
The Courtyard Café
Pink Elephant Wedding Stationery
Picture Framing by Stepping Stones NI
2nd Avenue Café
Reports & Documents
Education Training Inspectorate Reports
Impact Reports
Strategic Framework
Social Return on Investment Evaluations
Join our team
Want to work for an awarding winning charity that supports people with learning disabilities and barriers to learning and employment to realise their full potential?
Donate to us with
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.
