Welcome to Second Step

We’re a leading mental health charity that’s been putting mental health first for people in Bristol and the South West for over 30 years. We believe that with the right support, everyone can take control of their life and make their future their own. Our services can be found in Bath and North East Somerset, Bristol, North Somerset, South Gloucestershire and Somerset.

Our mission is to promote mental health and wellbeing by supporting people and communities to build brighter futures. Working hand-in-hand with the NHS and local authorities, we offer practical help and emotional support tailored to each individual and their recovery.

The people who use our services are at the heart of our organisation, and our involvement groups help inform and improve the services we deliver.

Celebrating Diversity

How we help

Second Step icon of a House

Homeless Services

Our homeless services help people, including those who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless, to find suitable accommodation they can call home.

Second Step icon representing recovery

Recovery & Mental Health

We work with the NHS to run mental health services which focus on the individual - working with them to find the hope and courage to take the next steps in their recovery.

Wellbeing home icon

Health & Wellbeing

We run a number of services in the community which help people find the hope and courage they need to make the most of their health and wellbeing.

Our services can be found in Bristol, Bath and North East Somerset, Somerset, North Somerset
and South Gloucestershire.

Latest news and stories

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Embracing diverse holidays and celebrations

28 November 2023

As the festive holidays approach, Bristol Wellbeing College tutor Jasmine takes a look at different ways to feel fulfilled and find…

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14.05.19 Second Step HOPE project; Dan; Jonny Benjamin; Male Sui

International Men’s Day 2023: Supporting men’s mental health with Hope

17 November 2023

To coincide with International Men’s Day this year, we sat down with Sam Remington, Hope Project Worker, to talk about…

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Creating connections through art

14 November 2023

How volunteering at Second Step creates hope and change, and in this case, an actual piece of artwork too! It’s…

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MoRun success: Supporting men’s mental health

13 November 2023

Congratulations to all who took part in Movember’s MoRun at Ashton Court yesterday, especially Rich Lee, Andy Warren and Sam…

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Kingfisher mural under a Bristol flyover in Eastville

Second Step stands against homelessness

10 November 2023

Like many, we were shocked by recent remarks about homelessness being a lifestyle choice. Our Chief Executive, Aileen Edwards, is…

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Bristol man runs this Movember in aid of mental health service that changed his life

6 November 2023

Former Bristol Wellbeing College learner and Delivery Project Manager at Vattenfall Heat UK, part of Bristol City Leap, Rich Lee…

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12.06.23 Second Step; Connect Together

A new office for the new year

27 October 2023

After 30 years in Brunswick Square in Bristol, we’re excited to share that we’ll be moving to pastures new early…

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Finding healing and purpose: A journey of willow weaving

25 October 2023

Read more about Warren’s inspiring story and discover how finding a hobby like willow weaving has transformed his life.

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The progress pride flag, with 7 rainbow colours, the blue, pink and white colours for trans inclusivity, and black and brown colours to include people of colour.

We’re all human beings, not just numbers

23 October 2023

Today our colleague Clara Eden-Thompson writes about the rise in homophobia and transphobia and the impact this is having on…

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Two children reading a book

The importance of diversity in children’s books

17 October 2023

In keeping with this year’s Black History Month theme of ‘celebrating our sisters’, we wanted to shine a light on…

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Nov 30

As November ends and the festive season approaches, it's a time for reflection. Even as 'Movember' wraps up, we should continue to talk about men's mental health throughout the whole year. And we will continue to highlight the dedicated work our Stepladder team do speaking up about men's mental health across Somerset.

Meet Matt, one of our Community Development Workers from our men’s mental health project, Stepladder. Matt joined the team back in the summer and is committed to helping men with their wellbeing, with the focus of reaching men across communities in Somerset.

Matt’s commitment to the project went a step further as throughout November he has braved the shave to highlight the important message that Movember embodies for men. By removing the beard he's had since he was 20, along with the confidence and image it carried, he shared: “My journey through depression and stress-related alopecia barbae taught me the power of vulnerability. By shaving my beard and sharing my insecurities, I hope to inspire others to overcome image-related issues. It's okay for men to be vulnerable and break free from what we choose to hide behind."

According to the latest data, 75% of all suicides are men, highlighting the need for increased awareness and support for mental health in men.

#mensmentalhealth #mentalhealthawarenress #movember #somerset

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Nov 20

Our partners at @coexistcommunitykitchen are currently running their winter crowdfunder with the aim to raise £50,000!

The Coexist Community Kitchen is passionate about using food as a catalyst for change, and for over a decade they have been providing a welcoming space where individuals from diverse backgrounds can come together, learn new skills, and rebuild their lives.

Their work supports those facing multiple challenges in their lives, including mental health issues, food insecurity, domestic abuse, risk of trafficking, problematic use of alcohol or drugs, as well as individuals seeking refuge from war or conflict.

They work with people to understand the unique struggles they face and strive to create a safe and nourishing environment where they can heal, grow, and regain their sense of self-worth.

You'll find the link to donate in their bio.

wearesecondstep

Nov 17

To coincide with International Men’s Day on Sunday, we sat down with Sam Remington, Hope Project Worker, to talk about the Hope Project and its impact on men’s mental health.

Head over to our News Hub to watch full video and read our interview.

#MentalHealth #InternationalMensDay #InternationalMensDay2023

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Nov 13

Congratulations to all who ran the @movember MoRun at Ashton Court yesterday, especially Richard Lee, Andy Warren and Sam Wilson who took part to raise funds for Second Step.

Our Deputy CEO Andy and Team Manager Sam joined Rich, a former Bristol Wellbeing College learner and now Delivery Project Manager at @vattenfall, part of @bristolcityleap.

Rich was raising awareness of men’s mental health and the great work being done by Bristol Wellbeing College, offering wellbeing workshops and sessions to many across the city.

Earlier today, he spoke to Joe Lemer on @bbcbristol about his reasons for running.

Head over to our News Hub to listen and for the link to donate.

#MentalHealth #Movember #Bristol

wearesecondstep

Nov 6

Former Bristol Wellbeing College learner and Delivery Project Manager at @vattenfall - part of @bristolcityleap - Richard Lee is taking part in MoRun on 12 November with 25 colleagues to drive awareness of men’s mental health and raise funds for Second Step.

Rich moved to Bristol in the summer of 2017 to a new job and a new home. Within weeks he’d become seriously unwell, not able to leave the house and seeking help from our crisis team.

“I fell apart. I’d managed my depression and anxiety before that really well, but suddenly I wasn’t able to manage at all. I was having lots of panic attacks all at once and I was having suicidal thoughts,” he says.

He found Bristol Wellbeing College - which Second Step runs - after coming across the college’s drop-in Wellbeing Café where he went to have tea with others.

"The College were there for me when I was at rock bottom and now I want to do my bit,” he explains in our latest blog post.

Head over to our News Hub to read the full story.

#MentalHealth #Wellbeing #Bristol

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Nov 2

“Equality does not mean treating everybody the same, in fact treating people the same wouldn’t be a very psychologically and trauma informed way of working with people. The best way to support any LGBTQ+ person you work with is to consider not just individual difficulties, but the difficulties faced in the wider communities that they are part of and exposed to.”

In our recent blog, our colleague Clara shares her thoughts on the rise of homophobia and transphobia and the impact it has on all of us – read on our website – link in bio (trigger warning: references to hate crime and violence from the outset).

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#LGBTQMentalHealth #QueerMentalHealth #TransMentalHealth #MentalHealthMatters #EndTheStigma #BristolPride

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Nov 1

November isn't just about Autumn shifting to winter; it's #movember ! Where people worldwide unite to raise awareness about men's health and break silence on topics like suicide.

Our men's mental health project, Stepladder stands by men's wellbeing in Somerset, highlighting year-round support available and ways to get involved in local communities

👨 So, who's growing a mo this November?

Visit our website for more information www.second-step.co.uk/stepladder

#mensmentalhealth #moustache #mentalhealthmatters

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Oct 31

As Black History Month comes to an end, Imogen, Jada and Natalie from our New Business team have been cooking up a storm! 💫

On the menu were @cheflolaskitchen's Nigerian Jollof Rice, a vegan Nigeria Efo Riro Spinach Stew and @jensplantbase's Brown Stew Fish (with tofu).

It all looks so good!

#BlackHistoryMonth

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Oct 18

Most of us are familiar with the well-known symptoms of the menopause, e.g. changes to the menstrual cycle and hot flushes, but there are also dozens of other symptoms, including:

• Fatigue and lack of energy
• Loss of motivation
• Sadness and heightened emotions
• Anxiety
• Brain fog and difficulty focusing
• Forgetfulness

Women going through perimenopause often find it affects their lives in unpredictable ways, from causing problems at work to affecting their relationships.

To mark World Menopause Day, we want to raise awareness of the ways the menopause can affect psychological and emotional health and offer hope to anyone who’s struggling with symptoms.

Visit our website where some of our colleagues have shared how the perimenopause has affected their lives and what helps them manage their symptoms.

You can also find information about our FREE menopause workshops across Bristol and North Somerset offered by Bristol Wellbeing College and North Somerset Wellbeing!
Link in bio.

#WorldMenopauseDay #Menopause #MenopauseAwareness #Perimenopause #MenopauseSymptoms #MenopauseSupport

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Oct 17

Our colleague Jada Johnson-Dutfield shares a page from her book, Take It Back! - a story about welcoming a new baby to the family from the point-of-view of the family dog Monkey, who doesn't feel quite ready to give up his favourite spot on his owner's lap.

Jada originally wrote Take It Back! (with illustrations by Millie Bicknelle) for her son after realising it was difficult to find many children's books with strong representations of diversity in the UK. She shared her story behind writing Take It Back! with us:

"I think it’s so important that all our children have books on their shelves with people from different backgrounds and different cultures. Parents who are two mums, two dads or grandparents raising them. Just to show that families come in different shapes and forms. I thought the best way to do this was to have my book published and that’s what really drove me. Every child deserves to feel that they are represented; they should see themselves in the TV shows they watch, the books they read and the magazines they open."

Read Jada's full blog post on our website - link in bio.

Stay up to date with news and content about Take It Back! on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/TakeitbackBook

Find more recommendations for books with strong representations of diversity and stories from around the world:

@thisisbooklove_
@booksfordiversity
@jojos_book_club
@books_of_colour
@agbadabooks
@helpingkidsrise
@thewhybooks
@booksofmelanin
@books_that_inspire_young_minds
@littleliteracybean
@amayahs_diversebooks

#BlackHistoryMonth #CelebratingOurSisters #SalutingOurSisters #BHM23 #BHM2023 #DiversityMatters

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Oct 11

Did you know that three of the Seven Saints of Saint Pauls were women?

Delores Campbell, Barbara Dettering and Carmen Beckford are all depicted in murals in the area.

Every year at Second Step, we try to organise a staff walk through St Pauls to visit all seven of the Seven Saints murals. And as the theme of Black History Month this year is Celebrating Our Sisters, we wanted to shine the spotlight in particular on Delores, Carmen and Barbara - three incredible women who dedicated their lives and careers to making Bristol a better place for everyone to live.

#BlackHistoryMonth #CelebratingOurSisters #SalutingOurSisters #BHM23 #StPaulsBristol #StPaulsCarnival #SevenSaintsOfStPauls

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Oct 10

Mental health isn't "all in our heads", it's affected by the world around us. Everyone, no matter who they are, should be protected from mental health risks, be able to access support, and be included in their community.

Today is World Mental Health Day and with this year’s theme being “mental health is a universal human right”, we want to share this powerful article written by our colleague Terry about the importance of sick leave from work and why he believes it’s a fundamental worker’s right.

Terry writes:

"In a compassionate organisation, sickness absence should be seen not as a liability, but as a means by which a diverse workforce manages its physical, emotional and mental health."

Read Terry’s full article on our website – link in bio

#WorldMentalHealthDay #WorkplaceMentalHealth #MentalHealthAtWork

wearesecondstep

Oct 4

"I’ve become things I didn’t know I could be,

"In moments of doubt my 16 year old self stares back at me,

"Is this your place in front of a class and just how did you get that A+ pass?

"No home, no school, drugs and alcohol became my mask, on the outskirts of society was where I felt cast.

"Family, teachers, and workers had low hopes, but,
I rose defiant from smoky rooms, to show those who doubted how well I would cope.

"Back then I didn’t see positive representation of what I could be, but now I see the authentic version of me.

"And beautiful brown faces everywhere for everyone to see, for the youth of today and tomorrow to inspire to be."

Growth, written by one of our Second Step colleagues. Thank you so much for sharing these beautiful words with us.

#BlackHistoryMonth #WeMatter #CelebratingOurSisters #SalutingOurSisters #CelebratingDiversity #BHM23

wearesecondstep

Sep 29

1 October is the start of Black History Month 2023! This year the theme is celebrating our sisters, applauding their invaluable contributions to British society and understanding how they empower future generations.

Click the link in our bio or keep an eye on our socials throughout the month to find stories and news about just a few of the many amazing women we want to celebrate.

Join in with the hashtag #WeMatter and tag us – we’d love to learn more about who you’re celebrating this October too!

#BlackHistoryMonth #BlackHistoryMonth2023 #BHM #BHM23 #CelebratingOurSisters #SalutingOurSisters

wearesecondstep

Sep 27

Feeling overwhelmed or having trouble coping? The Sanctuary is a safe space where you can come to find support and take a breather.

Based at Southmead Hospital, we can offer same-day face-to-face or phone appointments to anyone aged 16 or over during our opening hours – Call 07709 295 661 between 3pm and 11pm on Thursdays to Mondays to make an appointment.

During your appointment, you’ll be able to speak to one of our trained mental health support workers, or you’re welcome to use the space to take some time away from everything to recentre yourself.

Second Step recently took over The Sanctuary from St Mungo’s. We’re a mental health charity and we’ll continue to offer this safe space which we know means so much to the people who use it. We can also offer access to other services and provide a free taxi home.

Click the link in our bio to visit our website and find out more about The Sanctuary, including how to make an appointment and directions.

#TheSanctuary #TheSanctuaryBristol #BristolMentalHealth #BristolMentalHealthSupport #BristolMentalHealthService #MentalHealthCharity #SouthmeadHospital #MentalHealthSupport #MentalHealthService

wearesecondstep

Aug 2

Trigger warning: mentions of suicidal thoughts.

When it comes to talking about their mental health, it’s very common for men, and people who were socialised as male, to feel isolated from their friends, family, and colleagues. Stigma often makes men feel like they need to act ‘strong’ and not ‘burden’ anyone else, or that their problems aren’t as important as other things going on in the world.

If you sometimes feel this way, know that you're not alone.

Vic shares his story with us: from feeling overwhelmed and suicidal to getting sober and taking control of his mental health recovery with the support of Second Step's Hope Project and his support worker Ezra.

If you'd like to know more about the Hope Project, visit our website - link in bio.

You can also find Vic's full story on our website - link in bio.

#HopeAndCourage #SuicidePrevention #MensMentalHealth #BristolMentalHealth #MaleMentalHealth #MentalHealthCharity

wearesecondstep

Jul 26

A huge thank you to Lord Mayor Cllr Paul Goggin for his wonderful video message about his positive experiences with Second Step, and for always speaking so openly about mental health.

From being homeless to becoming Bristol’s Lord Mayor, Cllr Goggin’s story shows that we can overcome anything when we have the right support.

We’re looking forward to seeing Cllr Goggin’s lived experience shine through in his work to improve the lives of everyone in Bristol.

And as Cllr Goggin said in his Lord Mayor acceptance speech earlier this summer:

“We must keep speaking out about our mental health issues, not be ashamed or embarrassed – own it, normalise it to fight against the stigma so many suffer from.”

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#BristolLordMayor #BristolCityCouncil #BristolMentalHealth #MentalHealthAwareness

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Jul 12

📢Join us for a FREE fun-filled community day of wellbeing activities at Bridgwater & Albion Rugby Football Club, Fri 28 July, 10am-3pm!

🎵Live music
🧘Relaxation & yoga
🎨Arts & crafts
😆Laughter therapy
☕️Free refreshments
💚And more!

Bridgwater & Albion Rugby Football Club, Bath Road, Bridgwater, TA6 4TZ.

@OpenMentalHlth

#WellbeingEvent #CommunityEvent #WellbeingActivities #Somerset #Bridgwater #WhatsOnBridgwater #WhatsOnSomerset #BridgwaterandAlbionRFC

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Jun 14

It was amazing to visit our #PoetryWithoutWords exhibition with Bristol Wellbeing College learners the other week to see their art on display!

The exhibition is running at Boston Tea Party, Stokes Croft until 30 June, so come along & be immersed in our talented artists’ work🎨💚

We're also running an online exhibition, so don't worry if you can't visit in person! Just click the link our bio to visit our Poetry Without Words virtual exhibition on our website.

Photo from left to right: Del, Steve, Lucy, Caz and Paul

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#BristolWellbeingCollege #PutYourMentalHealthFirst #PoemBrut

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Jun 7

Happy Pride Month!

Let's remember how far we've come, while recognising how far we still need to go.

Read Jemma's blog post about her experience with bi-erasure and how much work we still need to do to break down harmful preconceptions about what LGBTQ+ experiences should look like on our website - link in bio.

If you need support in Bristol or beyond check out - https://bristolpride.co.uk/organisations-directory/

Image text:
"I’m so grateful to work in the most open and inclusive workplace I’ve been a part of so far.

I can finally put on clothes every day that I feel myself in. I can express opinions and give feedback that’s taken seriously.

I feel respected and valued by my colleagues and management.

I’m still not sure I’d want to have a conversation about my sexuality with more than a few of my colleagues. We still have work to do."

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#PrideMonth #Pride2023 #PrideMonth2023 #BiErasure #LGBTMentalHealth #LGBTQMentalHealth #BristolPride

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