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 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.
How we help
Our housing services help people, including those who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless, to find suitable accommodation they can call home.
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.
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.
Social media campaigns
#WhatMakesMeWell
#WhatMakesMeWell is our campaign designed at getting you thinking about the small things in life that help you stay well from a favourite book to a walk in the park What Makes You Well?
Latest news and stories
Life’s Only True Opponent
Danger has a vulnerable face too
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I didn’t know I could paint.
Jay’s world fell apart when his partner walked out on him while he slept. They’d been together for five years and he’d saved £10k for their wedding. He was holding down a good job at the time and was what you’d call a ‘functioning addict’
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Looking to the STARS…
Stuart is chair of the new involvement group at Second Step which works with staff to improve the organisation’s services, STAR Improvement. STAR stands for shaping, teaching and responding and Stuart was instrumental in developing this new approach to involvement and coproduction at Second Step. Here Stuart explains why it means so much to him.
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Sylvia’s Fund
Sylvia’s Fund is the brainchild of one of our support workers, Isabella Cross. Wanting to set up a fund that helped people’s mental health in small ways. We campaign for Sylvia’s Fund under #ItsTheLittleThings.
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Summer newsletter
Life-saving beermats, summer get togethers and what makes you well? Our Summer newsletter is here.
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Volunteering as a gateway
Volunteering is often talked about as a gateway to paid work. This volunteers week we have Claire our Digital Communications Officer talking about how volunteering helped her into her job.
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Who cares?
To mark Carers’ Week (10-16 June) our Involvement Officer Bev Woolmer blogs about being a carer for her son.
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On Identity: Self-Portrait as a Camera
When asked to write a self-portrait using an object as metaphor for the self, Wellbeing College attendee Mollie chose the camera as her object identity in her poem ‘We See Me A Little Different’.
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#GetReal – helping prevent male suicide
New Second Step social media campaign #GetReal to help prevent male suicide.
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