First Step Trust (FST) is an innovative charity with over 30 years’ experience of providing opportunities for people excluded from working life because of mental health conditions, learning disabilities, drug or alcohol and other disadvantages. FST provides within the various social enterprises it runs, work experience, on the job training and salaried employment to some of the most vulnerable and socially excluded members of our community. A number of our salaried staff team have been recruited from the shop floor.

More than 95% of those we work with have been unemployed for one or more years, 50% up to 10 years and 17% have never worked at all.

Our approach is about supporting workforce members to utilise the skills and experience they have to hand whilst learning new ones. They are encouraged to share their experience and coping strategies with their colleagues.

Abbevilles offers a traditional Fish & Chip menu for takeaway or eat in which is freshly prepared on site. With over 15 years’ experience in catering we also provide catering for private or corporate events and meetings in and around London, some of our clients include SLaM and Oxleas NHS, Lambeth and Greenwich Council.

Abbevilles is staffed with experienced Chefs with level 2 / level 3 in food hygiene qualifications and all of our staff are trained on allergens. Abbevilles has consistently maintained a 5-star food hygiene rating.

Our fully licensed venue offers the perfect hire space for people to host breakfast meetings, working lunches and team days out. We have two TV screens that can be attached to Laptops or USBs for presentations great transport links with Clapham common tube station and various bus routes stopping just outside of Abbevilles. We can also cater for private events and functions. If you’re interested in using our venue please contact katie.ryan@firststeptrust.org.uk