About Us
Founded in 1996, Stepping Stones NI was created through a partnership between a dedicated group of parents, carers, local business leaders from Lisburn, and the South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust.
United by a shared vision, they set out to create meaningful training opportunities for people with learning disabilities, helping them develop skills, build confidence, and access greater employment opportunities. That vision continues to shape everything we do today.
Since then, we have grown significantly, expanding our reach across Northern Ireland. We have developed innovative services and programmes that support a wider range of people with diverse needs, aspirations, and goals, creating more opportunities for learning, employment, and independence.
Today, we operate five social enterprises that provide realistic training environments where people with learning disabilities can develop practical skills, build confidence, and achieve recognised qualifications. These include three cafés, a wedding stationery and picture framing business, and a horticulture and wellbeing hub.
Our Employment and Training Service supports people who face barriers to learning and employment. We provide personalised support for individuals who are neurodiverse, including people with autism, ADHD and dyslexia, as well as those experiencing mental health challenges or other barriers to finding and sustaining meaningful employment.
Our Youth Service empowers young people aged 16–24 to build confidence, develop social and life skills, access training, and gain valuable work experience, helping them prepare for the future with greater independence and opportunity.
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 to Our Funders
Our Funders and Partners
At Stepping Stones NI, our work is made possible through the invaluable support of our funders and partners. Their investment enables us to deliver life-changing opportunities for people across Northern Ireland, helping them develop skills, gain qualifications, and access meaningful employment.
We are particularly grateful to the South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust, whose support enables people with learning disabilities to access placements within our social enterprises. These placements provide practical, real-world training that helps individuals build confidence, develop workplace skills, and progress towards sustainable employment.
We also receive funding from the UK Government through the Local Growth Fund, delivered by the Prosper Consortium, to support people facing barriers to employment. This funding enables participants to gain new skills, achieve recognised qualifications, and move closer to meaningful and sustainable work.
We are equally thankful to Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council and Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council for their continued support through initiatives such as the Labour Market Partnerships. Their investment allows us to extend our reach and help even more people develop the skills and confidence they need to succeed.
Together with our funders and partners, we are creating opportunities, transforming lives, and strengthening communities across Northern Ireland.
Our Funders
Our People
Board Members
Shirley-Ann Smylie
Acting Chairperson
Michael Drayne
Board Member
Lisa Beers
Board Member
Emma Simms
Board Member
Lorraine Acheson
Board Member
Jenna Bradley
Board Member
Senior Management Team
Paula Jennings
Chief Officer
Emmett Mullally
Director of Social Enterprise & Operations
Ciara Brennan
Director of Marketing & Communications
Jenna Pike
Director of Quality & Impact
Alice O’Kane
Director of Finance
Carla Frazer
Director of Employability & Partnerships
Social Enterprises
Our five social enterprises include two cafés, a wedding stationery business, a picture framing business, and a horticulture and wellbeing hub at Navigation House, creating opportunities for people with learning disabilities to develop skills, gain experience, and build confidence.
Navigation House
The Gatelodge Café
The Courtyard Café
Pink Elephant Wedding Stationery
Picture Framing by Stepping Stones NI
Reports & Documents
Education Training Inspectorate Reports
Impact Reports
Strategic Framework
Social Return on Investment Evaluations
Join our team
Want to work for an award-winning charity that supports people with learning disabilities and barriers to learning and employment reach their full potential?
Compliments & Complaints
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