Our provision
- Exciting new day provision for adults based in the villages of Stawell and Bawdrip on the Polden Hills
- Bespoke packages in a social setting
- Suitable for young people of 18+ with learning disabilities who benefit from being in a social group
- Aiming to foster positive and lasting social relationships between members
- Trained and experienced staff who are passionate about supporting young people to fulfil their potential
- An ongoing education and training programme which provides work experience, volunteering, life skills, mental well-being, social and leisure opportunities, including qualifications if appropriate. Health and care related activities and therapies will also be provided as needed.
- Person and family-centred approach
- Integrated into the local community
- Open 5 days a week, 48 weeks a year
- Run as a social enterprise on a not-for-profit basis
Stepping Out is the hub for a number of micro-enterprises which are designed to provide supported employment pathways for our members. At present we have three: Mowability, a grounds maintenance business, Bakeability, a bread baking business and Createability, an art, craft and upcycling business. Each enterprise is divided into work areas and roles are carved for individuals based on their skills and preferences. For example in Bakeability members can choose to work in Marketing (preparing advertising materials and order forms), Catering (making the bread and cakes to sell in the Bakeability cafe) or Operations ( serving customers, handling money and delivering the bread). We support our members to be as independent as possible in their roles and to provide high quality services to the local community, in a relationship which is of mutual benefit.
Any profits made are split equally between re-investment into the micro-enterprises and funding for the members themselves to spend on outings, activities or resources of their choice, helping them to understand the financial purpose of employment and be motivated to join the world of work.
Our members will begin by working across the three micro-enterprises but as time goes on they will be encouraged to specialise in one area if they wish to do so. They are encouraged to collect evidence of the skills they have learnt and the progress they have made to inform their Records of Achievement and Annual Reviews. All our members who wish to will be supported to generalise the skills they have learnt by taking up work experience, volunteering roles and paid employment in businesses outside Stepping Out,