Step by Step (Northern Ireland)

Public benefits

The purposes of Step by Step (Northern Ireland) are to promote the relief and education of people with a learning disability by: Purpose 1 – the provision, equipping, operation and maintenance of a restaurant and ancillary facilities for the use of practical vocational training of such persons. The direct benefits which flow from this purpose

include provision of a realistic work environment to provide supported learning of vocational skills in hospitality These benefits can be demonstrated by the acquisition of skills, experience, towards qualifications and employment. Purpose 2 – developing a range of pre-vocational/vocational training and enterprise initiatives which enhance skills and promote opportunity in education, training and employment. The direct benefits which flow from this purpose include provision of vocational qualifications in hospitality for young people with learning disability. These benefits can be demonstrated by the acquisition of qualifications and subsequent employment in the hospitality industry. Purpose 3 – developing services for people with a learning disability which promote choice, opportunity, independence and equality. The direct benefits which flow from this purpose include support to identify suitable training courses or employment options within the hospitality industry. These benefits can be demonstrated by provision of a range of training courses to enable beneficiaries to access employment. The beneficiaries are young people with learning disabilities residing within the Southern Health area. There is no harm flowing from this purpose. The only private benefit flowing from the purposes is to the staff employed to deliver the vocational training and this is incidental and necessary because of the expertise required to transfer knowledge and skills and provide suitable supervision levels.

What your organisation does

Step by Step NI Ltd operates the One Eighty Degrees Restaurant as a not for profit social enterprise. The restaurant is used as a training environment for young people with learning disabilities to give them the qualifications, skills and experience to gain meaningful employment in the hospitality industry.