Stepping Stone Projects provides accommodation and support across the North-West to care experienced, people who are homeless and those currently at risk of losing their homes.

In 2024 Stepping Stone Projects is celebrating its 40th Anniversary since being formed as a homelessness charity by Rochdale Council in 1984. Back then the charity concentrated its work on providing accommodation and support to those with the most complex needs, who were often experiencing repeat homelessness and facing many barriers to accessing housing and then sustaining a home and independent living.

Since then we have grown and diversified our offer and services. We are now operating across the North-West, providing over 700 homes and support to over 1200 people, in many other boroughs, and to a much wider range of customers. These include rough sleepers, homeless singles and families, care leavers, vulnerable young people, ex-offenders, those with complex needs and mental health issues, survivors of modern day slavery and other forms of abuse and exploitation, those with no recourse to public funds, new refugees (eg Afghans and Ukrainians) and Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children.

At Stepping Stone Projects, we believe everyone has the right to a decent, affordable, warm and safe home regardless of their need and to have access to the kind of support that will allow them to reach their optimum level of independence.

It is our mission to prevent homelessness, support independence and transform lives. Our vision is to work together to end homelessness by 2034 and we are doing everything we can with our partners to deliver this.

As part of 40th anniversary celebrations we are putting together a programme of events throughout the year which will help us in delivering our mission and vision. Our “For40” programme of celebratory events has something for everyone; including our customers, colleagues, trustees, partners, commissioners, local charities and communities.

One of the events is our “HomesFor40” programme. This programme is to seek help from our communities, partners, suppliers, stakeholders and any other supporters, to sponsor at least 40 SSP customers to help them move into a new permanent home by providing them with starter packs. Whilst we don’t want to be too prescriptive of what each starter kit will contain, as they will be bespoke to the needs of the individual and the often few possessions they already have. However typically it would include some of the following:

- Bedding & linen

- Microwaves or air-fryers

- Kettles and other key pieces of kitchen equipment

- Pots, pans, crockery, cutlery and glasses

- Bathroom equipment

We are seeking donations to help them purchase the other essentials they will need to successfully set up a new home.

We hope you will be able to support this initiative and support our customers to successfully move into what for many is their lifetime home. Your donation will make such a difference to those customers who will benefit from the starters packs as having the basics to sustain a warm, dry and secure home are vital in the early days of setting up a new home.