First Step Trust (FST)

First Step Trust (FST) is an innovative mental health charity using social enterprise to deliver SMaRT employment opportunities for disadvantaged people who want to get back into work. We have branches in London, Midlands and North West. FST works with some of the most vulnerable and socially-excluded members of our community including people with mental health issues or other disadvantages. We provide support so that people can make the choices that they feel will help them to overcome social exclusion and improve the quality of their life. FST delivers a range of business services including: car and garage services, design and print, catering, conference facilities and gardening and maintenance. These social enterprises provide employment and training opportunities. FST offers personalised support with access to a commercial working environment which people can join, on a voluntary basis, to gain experience and qualifications and build up their confidence and skills. SMaRT (Socially Minded and Responsible Trading™) is a new business delivery model, developed by FST, and increasingly attracting interest from policy makers, healthcare professionals and other stakeholders who want to identify effective interventions which aid recovery and support people back into the workplace. FST has three SMaRT Garage Services centres in Salford (0161 743 0300), West Norwood (020 8761 2269) and Woolwich (020 8465 7848), with another due to open in Bexley in spring 2013.