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

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.”

Related articles

Schizophrenia Awareness Day

National Schizophrenia Awareness Day held on 25th July, is a vital opportunity to raise awareness, challenge stigma, and ensure that people living with schizophrenia are seen for who they truly are. Today we're sharing this useful blog which includes information, stats, tips and support options for living with schizophrenia.

Your Nervous System at Work

When we think about stress at work, we often focus on external things, tight deadlines, a tough manager, endless meetings. But what if we zoomed in a little closer, inside our own bodies? Understanding our nervous systems can be a game-changer, not just for our wellbeing, but for how we relate to ourselves and others at work.

Let’s Talk About Mental Health and Wellbeing at Work

This blog series is part of our Wellbeing@Work programme created to help businesses and their people explore what mental wellbeing really means, how we talk about it, and what we can do to support one another at work.
Photo collage of wellbeing activities

My Week as an Intern at Step One

Hi, I’m Rosie. I’m a recent history graduate from the University of Exeter, and this week I completed an internship with Step One with their marketing and fundraising team. Here's how it went:
Colleagues enjoying team building day

A sneak peek into our Team Building Day

Step One recently hosted team-building days, which involved an escape room and wellbeing sessions. Thanks to the support of Devon Community Foundation, we were given the opportunity to practice what we preach, taking time to bond as a team, prioritise our wellbeing and relax.
Graphic with "5 minutes with our Trustees"

5 Minutes With Our Trustees

We're very excited to introduce the new Trustees joining Step One Charity. Today we're sharing a bit about each of them in a "5 minutes with..." interview. Please continue reading to find out more about the people helping guide our charity and further our mission.
Graphic with quote reading: “You met me at one of the most difficult times and seeing the difference you’ve made is amazing [...] Please keep doing what you do. You change lives.”

Celebrating 15 years of Larry, Senior Recovery Practitioner

Larry is one of our longest-serving team members, who recently marked an incredible 15 years with Step One! In this Q&A Larry shares his journey, the highlights of his career to date, and what keeps him motivated to support others.

How you can get involved with Mental Health Awareness Week 2025

Join us this Mental Health Awareness Week for a whole host of activities and events throughout the week to help you connect with others and take care of your wellbeing.
40 Reasons to sign up to Exeter’s Great West Run 2025

40 Reasons to sign up to Exeter’s Great West Run 2025

By joining #TeamStepOne in The Great West Run, you'll not only challenge yourself physically by completing a half marathon or 10k but also contribute to helping support people with mental health challenges, learning disabilities, and neurodiversity across Devon.
©️ Copyright 2024 – Step One. Registered Charity Number: 235434 Company Number 393477 in England. X Centre, Commercial Road, Exeter, EX2 4AD. Web Design by The Ambitions Agency