Step Together Volunteering

What Step Together Volunteering does

Step Together Volunteering is a UK-registered charity and Company Limited by Guarantee (charity number 1038253; Scottish charity number SC040616; company number 2932195) founded in 1994, originally as World Wide Volunteering for Young People, and rebranded to its current name in 2016. It provides intensive, non-time-limited one-to-one coaching combined with supported community volunteering placements to individuals facing multiple barriers to participation. The organisation operates three core programmes — a Young People's Programme (ages 15–25) in Bristol and Dumfries & Galloway, a Youth Justice Programme in Bristol, and an Armed Forces Community Programme across the North of England, Wiltshire and Hampshire — and runs specialist sub-programmes including the Get Growing! Allotment in South Bristol, For My Future (women in the justice system), Step ToGetHer (women in the Armed Forces experiencing or at risk of medical discharge), Helping Hands group volunteering in Dumfries, and the Chance to Change deferred prosecution partnership with Avon & Somerset Police. All services are delivered free of charge to those meeting referral criteria. The model is a direct human-service delivery model rather than a technology platform: project managers and facilitators, many of whom have lived experience of the communities they serve, deliver support in the community through peripatetic arrangements across four UK regions, with the registered office (Engine Shed, Temple Meads, Bristol) used for administration only.

The organisation's technology footprint is minimal. No proprietary platform, public API, or software product is described; the digital estate consists of a content-managed website (step-together.org.uk), social media profiles on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn, and standard donation and contact forms. The business model is a charitable funding model: revenue is not publicly disclosed but is described as almost entirely derived from grants from charitable trusts and grant-making organisations (including the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust, Henry Smith Foundation, The Gannochy Trust, Veterans Foundation, and Army Benevolent Fund), supplemented by individual one-off and monthly donations, tailored corporate CSR partnerships (Charity of the Year relationships and employee fundraising engagement with companies such as Unite Students, Burges Salmon LLP, and Osborne Clarke LLP), and community fundraising events such as London Marathon charity places and the Great Bristol Run. Demand is generated through a community-led go-to-market model: referrals from youth justice services, local authorities, health professionals, schools, The Prince's Trust, Royal British Legion, RFEA, and Personnel Recovery Units, plus self-referral via the website with a five-working-day response commitment. The charity is governed by a Board of Trustees chaired by Jamie Shearer, with Anna-Clare Temple as Chief Executive and Roger Potter (MBE) as Founder and Lifetime President. Last-year reported outcomes include 170+ people receiving intensive one-to-one support, 100+ participating in volunteering, 76% reporting increased confidence and aspirations, 73% improved wellbeing, 68% developing new skills, and 75% progressing into education, training, or employment.

Name

Step Together Volunteering

Legal name

Step Together Volunteering

Website

https://step-together.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Step Together Volunteering is a UK charity providing intensive one-to-one coaching and supported community volunteering placements to people facing multiple barriers, including NEET young people, those in contact with the criminal justice system, and Armed Forces community members across four UK regions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Charitable Social Support Services

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (62411), Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Social Assistance (624)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Dropout Prevention, Alternative Education & Re-Engagement Nonprofits (BPAGADAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Youth Justice, At-Risk Youth & Violence Prevention Nonprofits (BPAGADAM), Mental Health & Crisis Support Services (BPAGACAD), Youth Mental Health, Counseling & Wellbeing (Education-Linked) Nonprofits (BPAGADAK)

Keywords

• Volunteering mentoring services
• One-to-one coaching support
• Youth employability programmes
• Armed forces community support
• Criminal justice rehabilitation

Headquarters

HQ city

Bristol

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Charitable Grants and Trust Funding: Step Together Volunteering is almost entirely funded by grants from charitable trusts and grant-making organisations. The charity receives support from funders including Army Benevolent Fund, Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust, Henry Smith Foundation, The Gannochy Trust, Veterans Foundation, and other charitable trusts listed on their supporters page.
2. Individual Donations: The charity accepts one-off and monthly donations from individual supporters. Donations can be made through their website.
3. Corporate Partnerships: The charity develops mutually beneficial partnerships with companies tailored to meet corporate CSR or business objectives. Includes Charity of the Year partnerships and employee fundraising engagement.
4. Fundraising Events: The charity raises funds through events including the London Marathon and Great Bristol Run. Runners are expected to fundraise minimum amounts (e.g., £200 for Great Bristol Run, £2,500 for London Marathon).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Step Together Volunteering is a UK-registered charity that delivers person-centred one-to-one coaching alongside supported community volunteering placements for people facing barriers to participation in society. The charity runs three core programmes — a Young People's Programme (for NEET 15–25 year-olds), a Youth Justice Programme (for those involved with or at risk of entering the criminal justice system), and an Armed Forces Community Programme (for veterans and personnel on recovery duty). All services are provided free of charge to those meeting referral criteria.

Product overview

Step Together Volunteering operates as a single unified charity offering multiple interconnected support programmes rather than a platform-plus-modules architecture. The core offering consists of three main programmes: the Young People's Programme (for NEET young people aged 15-25 in Bristol and Dumfries & Galloway), the Youth Justice Programme (for young people involved with or at risk of entering the criminal justice system in Bristol), and the Armed Forces Community Programme (for veterans and personnel on recovery duty across North of England, Wiltshire and Hampshire). These core programmes are supported by specialist sub-programmes including the Get Growing! Allotment (therapeutic gardening space), For My Future (women's justice programme), Step ToGetHer (women's Armed Forces programme), Helping Hands Group Volunteering (in Dumfries), and the Chance to Change deferred prosecution partnership. All programmes are delivered through two core services: intensive one-to-one coaching support (flexible and not time-limited) combined with supported community volunteering placements. The organisation also offers structured group activities and educational programmes at its allotment site. Services are free to access for those meeting referral criteria.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• 76% of clients report increased confidence and aspirations
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Blue Diamond Garden CentreminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 July 2024Awarded £2,000 worth of plants & garden care and 6 hours of expert help to support the Young People's Allotment in South Bristol as part of their community garden competition.
• Avon & Somerset PolicecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2024Step Together Volunteering partners with Avon & Somerset Police as a delivery partner on the 'Chance to Change' deferred prosecution programme. The programme supports young adults (18-24) who have committed low-level offences, offering structured supportive interventions to avoid prosecution.
• Rise Mutual CICcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2024Rise Mutual CIC leads the Chance to Change partnership with Avon & Somerset Police, with Step Together Volunteering and The Nelson Trust as delivery partners.
• Dumfries YMCAminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2024Host organisation for the Helping Hands group volunteering programme in Dumfries. Welcomed young participants to help improve community premises, gardens, and public areas.
• Summerhill Community CentreminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2024Community partner hosting Helping Hands volunteer group projects in Dumfries.
• Queen of the South FCminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2024Community partner hosting Helping Hands volunteer group projects in Dumfries.
• Thrive Together PartnershipcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStep Together Volunteering joined the Thrive Together partnership in the North West, funded by the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust. The partnership uses volunteers with lived experience of the Armed Forces to reach veterans facing difficult circumstances and inform them of available support.
• The Prince's TrustcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorReferral partner for young people. Max was referred to Step Together Volunteering by The Prince's Trust after completing courses to increase employability.
• Royal British LegioncoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorReferral partner for Armed Forces community members. Ben was referred to Step Together Volunteering by the Royal British Legion.
• RFEAcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMajor agency partner working with Armed Forces personnel on recovery duty and veterans.
• Personnel Recovery UnitscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPersonnel Recovery Units across the UK refer service personnel on recovery duty to Step Together Volunteering's Armed Forces Community Programme.
• Unite StudentsminorOthersCorporate supporter of Step Together Volunteering in 2024-25.
• Burges Salmon LLPminorOthersCorporate supporter providing legal services support to Step Together Volunteering in 2024-25.
• Osborne Clarke LLPminorOthersCorporate supporter providing legal services support to Step Together Volunteering in 2024-25.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Catch22: Large UK social business delivering services across young people, justice, and education — directly overlapping Step Together's three programme areas. Operates as a delivery partner on Chance to Change alongside Step Together, making it both a peer and a collaborator.
• The Prince's Trust: UK's largest youth charity supporting NEET young people aged 11-30 into education, training and employment. Already operates as a referral partner feeding beneficiaries into Step Together, and competes for the same grant pools and corporate partnerships.
• Royal British Legion: Major Armed Forces charity providing welfare, employment, and community support to veterans and their families. Already a referral partner into Step Together's Armed Forces programme, and competes for the same pool of Armed Forces trust funding.
• Action for Children: Major UK children's charity delivering youth services, leaving care support, and mental health programmes. Overlaps with Step Together's Young People's Programme particularly around leaving care and education re-engagement.
• Help for Heroes: Large Armed Forces charity focused on wounded, injured, and sick veterans including recovery duty personnel. Competes directly for Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust grants and the same veteran beneficiary cohort.

Emerging players

• Key4Life: Smaller UK charity focused on rehabilitating young men at risk of re-offending through mentoring and employability training. Comparable beneficiary profile and similar lived-experience delivery model to Step Together's Justice Programme.

Direct peers

• Switchback: London-based charity providing one-to-one mentoring and real-world training (through cafe work) for young adults caught up in the criminal justice system. Closest direct competitor to Step Together's Justice Programme in terms of model, mission and beneficiary profile.
• The Nelson Trust: Bristol-based charity supporting women in the criminal justice system and those affected by multiple disadvantage. Co-delivery partner with Step Together on the Chance to Change programme, operating in overlapping geographies and beneficiary segments.
• RFEA – Walking With The Wounded: UK charity supporting veterans into meaningful employment after service. Already operates as a referral partner feeding Armed Forces beneficiaries into Step Together, and shares the same employment-outcome funder narrative.
• St Giles Trust: UK charity using lived-experience mentors to help people move away from involvement in the criminal justice system and into employment. Strong overlap with Step Together's Justice Programme in both model (peer-led mentoring) and beneficiary cohort.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/StepTogetherVol
• Instagraminstagram.com/steptogethervolunteering
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/step-together-volunteering

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Step Together Volunteering