Our Mission and Values
To create happier, healthier and more connected communities where people feel able to talk openly about their mental health, access support early and take positive steps towards improving their wellbeing.
At NE Steps, we believe that mental health should be talked about as openly and confidently as physical health.
We all have mental health, and many of us will experience times when our mental health and wellbeing are affected. No one should feel ashamed, judged or alone when this happens.
Through conversation, physical activity and human connection, we aim to help people develop the confidence, practical tools and support they need to look after their mental wellbeing.
Our Aims
We aim to challenge stigma and misconceptions surrounding mental health and create opportunities for open, honest conversations—including conversations about suicide.
We aim to encourage early action, helping people recognise changes in their wellbeing, develop practical ways for looking after their mental health and feel confident seeking additional support when they need it.
We aim to reduce loneliness, isolation and inactivity by bringing people together through walking, physical activity, peer support and shared experiences.
We aim to make our services as accessible and affordable as possible. Our peer support services are free to adults aged 18 and over, and wherever funding allows, we aim to provide our other coaching programmes and wellbeing workshops free of charge or at an affordable cost.
We aim to work alongside our communities, local organisations and health professionals to create welcoming, supportive and inclusive opportunities for people to improve their physical and mental wellbeing.
We aim to contribute to suicide prevention by challenging stigma, increasing awareness, encouraging conversations and helping people recognise when they—or someone around them—may need additional support.
Lived Experience at Our Heart
Lived experience is at the heart of NE Steps.
Our team members bring their own experiences of life's challenges alongside training that enables them to be supportive, encouraging and non-judgemental.
We recognise that everyone's experience is different. We aren't here to judge, diagnose or tell people how they should feel. We're here to listen, encourage, connect and support.
Our Vision
A community where nobody feels they have to struggle alone, where talking about mental health feels as natural as talking about physical health, and where everyone has the opportunity to take positive steps towards a healthier, happier and more connected life.
Our Values
Our values are at the heart of everything we do. They guide how we support people, how we work with our communities and how we treat one another.
Connection
We believe nobody should have to face life's challenges alone.
Real connection can make a real difference. We create opportunities for people to walk, talk, listen and connect with others, helping to reduce loneliness and isolation and build a stronger sense of belonging.
Compassion
We listen without judgement.
Everyone's experience is different. We aim to create a welcoming and supportive environment where people feel heard, respected and comfortable being themselves. Sometimes people need support; sometimes they simply need someone to listen.
Lived Experience
We understand the value of shared experience.
Lived experience is at the heart of NE Steps. Our own experiences help us understand some of the challenges people may face, but we never assume that one person's journey is the same as another's. We combine lived experience with training to provide appropriate, supportive and encouraging peer support.
Inclusion
Everyone deserves to feel welcome.
We want our activities and services to be accessible, affordable and inclusive. We welcome people from all backgrounds and experiences and work to remove barriers that may prevent someone from finding connection or accessing support.
Empowerment
We help people take positive steps for themselves.
We don't believe in telling people how they should live or how they should feel. Instead, we encourage people to recognise their own strengths, develop practical tools, build confidence and make positive choices for their physical and mental wellbeing.
Prevention
We believe support shouldn't have to wait for a crisis.
We encourage open conversations about mental health, greater self-awareness and early action. By helping people recognise when things may be changing and providing opportunities to talk, connect and be active, we hope to support people before difficulties become overwhelming.
Community
We're stronger when we work together.
NE Steps is about more than individual support. We want to build healthier, happier and more connected communities. We work alongside local people, organisations, volunteers and health professionals to create opportunities for people to support themselves and each other.