The Trust has just signed the lease on the upper floor of our building, and so will be taking over the whole building at the beginning of June. This extra space will allow a further range of activities to be offered at our Halifax centre, but there will be a small amount of disruption in June as we re-arrange things and also install a lift! The lift will be positioned in the current physiotherapy room, so that the door to the lift will be where the current door is; the whiteboard will be moved upstairs and a new door will... [read more]

Natalie, one of our Next Steppers, has just celebrated her 21st birthday, and decided that instead of presents she would like donations to be shared between The Trust and Ravenscliffe High School.
A total of £500 was donated; when the Gift Aid is recovered the grand total will be over £635, so each organisation will receive £317.
A great big thank you to Natalie, and congratulations on becoming 21.

The Trust has just received a grant of £5000 for the purchase of a new adapted bike, capable of transporting a wheelchair and user at the front. The bike, called a Raam Velo, hasbeen ordered and should be delivered to us early in March. It will then be stored at the Spring Hall track.
The grant has been awarded by Grants for Health, and was awarded through the Community Foundation for Calderdale. We are extermely grateful to both organisations for their financial support.

Over the past year, staff at the Trust have been raising sponsorship money for a 'prone stander' - a device that allows wheelchair users to stand safely. It looks a bit strange with all its straps, but they are all designed to ensure that the user is fully supported at all times.
There are great health beneifits to the user, as the act of standing puts presssure on joints and muscles that would not normally be there, so strengthening the user. Several Next Steppers are benefiting from this new machine, and their faces show their obvious enjoyment.
The Trust is... [read more]

A group of Next Steppers were involved in a live broadcast today, answering questions and reading a poem that they had written earlier in the week.
Phoenix Radio invited us along as a result of a visit that they made to the Trust last Monday. Jamie, Ben, Luke and Phillip (supported by Ben and Jane) went along to their studios in Dean Cough, Halifax, and recorded the poem. This was edited and had music addded, and was then broadcast along with some live interviews. A great experience.
We hope to be able to add a podcast of the broadcast to... [read more]

At the Community and Environment Awards Ceremony held last night at Bertie's Banqueting Roms in Elland, the Trust was very honoured to receive the 'Trustee Board of the Year' Award. These Awards are sponsored by The Halifax Courier in conjunction with The Community Foundation for Calderdale.
This Award recognises the tremendous amount of work done by our Trustees - all totally voluntary. Much of their work is unseen, but they are constantly in touch, providing their professional advice and guidance, negotiating and influencing behind the scenes, and always available when help is needed.
We are very fortinate in having such... [read more]

We are very pleased that Donna Hatzer starts work with us today as a Catering Assistant, working in the kitchen / cafe with Jill Thewlis. Donna will be working from 9:0 until 2:00pm, assisting in all aspects of catering.

The Trust has been asked to participate in a new web-based system called localgiving.com. This is a system that is being set up in conjunction with Community Foundations, and the intention is that individuals and organisations can look to see what charities are operating in their local area, what projects are needing resources, and then allow donations to be made.
We have entered all our basic information and details of various projects that we are starting. The donations part is not yet working, but please do have a look at the site - your comments would be very gratefully received... [read more]

It's our third birthday today! We opened for business on 2nd October 2006, with two Next Steppers and one job being shared by three people. And today we have 25 Next Steppers and 15 staff!
This growth is far ahead of our expectations, and is a great tribute to all who work at the Trust, as Trustees, staff and volunteers. A great big thank you to you all.

The Board of the Next Step Trust has been shorlisted for the 'Board of the Year' Award at the forthcoming Halifax Courier Community and Environment Awards.
In the announcement of the shortlist, Next Step Trust board was praised for its handling of difficult situations. Mr Duncan (Chief Executive of the Community Foundation for Calderdale) said: "They are an excellent example of good practice."