First Step Trust - Our Philosophy
First Step Trust (FST) is a charity that provides real work, training and employment opportunities for people excluded from ordinary working life because of mental health problems or other disabilities or disadvantages.
FST aims to help people manage their problems, become less dependent on health and social care services and, where possible, make the transition to paid employment. FST is based on a belief that everyone has the right to work whatever their previous situation or disadvantage. People who join our workforce include not just the long-term unemployed but those who need just a little support to regain their confidence to return to work as well as many who have never worked at all or who are deemed incapable of work. People join FST as colleagues and equals, sharing the responsibility of making the business work.
The FST model is designed to enable those workforce members who are able to move on to employment as soon as possible and to support all, whether recently unemployed or long term unemployed to gain a sense of purpose, a reason to stay well, feel valued, make new friends, learn new skills and grow in confidence.
FST’s objectives are threefold:
- to assist people to become more employable by developing basic work disciplines such as reliability, punctuality and concentration, as well as building up confidence and updating work skills
- to assist those who are ready to move on to paid employment – both in the wider community and within FST
- to enable those who may take many years to consider employment, or may even never do so, lead a useful and satisfying life, with a self respect engendered through working rather than remaining isolated at home or stagnating in unchallenging day centres.
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Charity No1077959 Company Reg 3730562