This year myself and family decided to raise money for Mental Health in particular to raise money for a local charity S.T.E.P.S. S.T.E.P.S. stands for Suicide. Talking. Education. Prevention. Support. S.T.E.P.S. group was set up after a public consultation in 2012. Then Draperstown was referred to as the Suicide capital of Mid Ulster. S.T.E.P.S. promote a preventative approach and endeavour to break down the wall of silence, stigma and fear around Suicide and Mental Health.
S.T.E.P.S. started in 2012 with one yoga class we now have a range of classes – Yoga, Zumba, Physio led Pilates, Netball, Horticulture and we offer a drop in service every Friday from 7:30-9:30 for anyone who needs someone to talk to.
In 2016 due to our close partnership working with our GP we set up S.T.E.P.S. Counselling as their waiting list was 1 to 2 years for counselling. S.T.E.P.S. Counselling started in December 2016 with one counsellor, now in 2019 we have 4 fully qualified counsellors and our service runs Monday to Friday.
From December 2016 to December 2018 we have seen 185 people. 122 Females aged from 7-73 and 66 Males aged from 8-67 from 19 different towns – Draperstown, Moneyneena, Sixtowns, Tobermore, Maghera, Swatragh, Kilrea, Ballymoney, Desertmartin, Castledawson, Magherafelt, Moneymore, Cookstown, Feeny, Claudy, Limavady, Dungiven, Forglen, Bellaghy.
S.T.E.P.S. is run solely by volunteers so every penny raised and donated goes directly back into the community to support those in need. S.T.E.P.S. classes are mostly self-sustaining. However it is really hard to find funding for counselling so the majority of monies raised goes to sustaining this vital service.
Charity Number – S.T.E.P.S. Mental Health –NIC106830