About First Step Trust
First Step Trust (FST) is a charity with around 30 years’ experience in providing real work experience, on the job training and salaried employment for people excluded from working life because of mental health conditions, learning disabilities, drug and alcohol and other disadvantages.
FST provides work placements in the following areas: catering, motor mechanics, gardening, admin, reception, customer service and finance.
“ FST gave me the opportunity to learn and increase my skills with on the job training in their SMaRT® garage. During my time volunteering at FST I completed the Driving Ambition programme and FST helped me gain my full driving licence years on I am now employed by FST’s social enterprise SMaRT® garage services as a Motor Vehicle Technician” – Samuel
16%
OF OUR STAFF ARE FORMER VOLUNTEERS FST HAVE HIRED 44 VOLUNTEERS INTO FULL-TIME EMPLOYMENT
95%
OF OUR VOLUNTEERS HAVEN’T WORKED FOR MORE THAN 1 YEAR
50%
OF OUR VOLUNTEERS HAVEN’T WORKED FOR MORE THAN 10 YEARS
17%
OF OUR VOLUNTEERS HAVE NEVER WORKED
Let’s keep Owen ‘goin’
Owen is a 1969 Renault Estafette van FST purchased in September 2015.
FST, with the help of sponsors, restored Owen back to his former glory. Owen is one of the few Renault Estafette in the UK and he is now roadworthy and available to hire.
FST purchased with the intention of putting him back on the road to help generate income to cover our running costs. We also want to create sustainable employment opportunities for workforce members. Let’s keep Owen ‘goin’ by hiring Owen for fundraising events, TV & films, corporate or commercial events.
You can read Owen’s story and see his restoration here Owen Story Book
