About NE Steps
The NE Steps story began with Walk N Talk - Redcar, a community peer-support group that has been bringing people together for around six years.
My own journey with Walk N Talk began during a particularly difficult period in my life. I came along as a member and experienced first-hand the benefits that walking, talking and connecting with other people could have on my mental health and wellbeing.
Having experienced that support myself, I wanted to give something back. I became a volunteer, helping to support and run the group, and over time became increasingly involved. Around a year ago, I took over responsibility for running Walk N Talk.
Since then, I have spent a lot of time listening to our members — hearing about their experiences, the challenges they face and the types of support they would like to see available. Wherever possible, we have responded to those conversations by developing new activities and services around what people have told us they need.
From Walk N Talk to NE Steps
As our ideas and services have developed, it became clear that there was an opportunity to do more.
NE Steps is being developed to build on the foundations of Walk N Talk and enable us to offer a wider range of support for mental health and wellbeing.
NE Steps is currently in the process of seeking charitable status. Once established, Walk N Talk will continue as one of the services provided by NE Steps, alongside our other peer-support activities, workshops and wellbeing services.
Walk N Talk therefore remains an important part of who we are and where we came from. The simple principles behind it — walking, talking, connecting and supporting one another without judgement — will remain at the heart of NE Steps.
Shaped by Our Community
We believe the people who use our services should have a voice in shaping them.
We listen to our members, learn from their experiences and, wherever possible, develop our activities and services in response to what they tell us would make a difference.
As NE Steps grows, we want to make sure that lived experience and the voices of our community remain at the heart of what we do.