Enjoying a tasty StEP Brunch

COMMUNITY PROFILE

We spoke to Maureen Gallagher, Chair of StEP, to find out how this local charity has been supporting the community.

Q What does StEP stand for?

A StEP (St. Edward’s Development Project) is based in St. Edward’s Church Hall, Mottingham. StEP’s volunteers raised funds to employ a project manager, key to developing and sustaining local projects, with the aim of supporting and empowering Mottingham’s community. Q What is your role at StEP? A I’m currently StEP’s chair and have been involved with StEP since its creation in 2011, as one of the founding committee members. We all work with the joint aim to create and maintain support for Mottingham’s community. We have enjoyed a high level of commitment from our members over the years, with only 4 leaving because of relocation and 2 leaving because of heightened work challenges. We became a Charitable Incorporated Organisation in 2019 and we now have 8 trustees and 2 members. Alongside other trustees, I also volunteer within StEP projects and help fund raise. I’ve worked in Mottingham since 2001 and I’ve enjoyed, prior to retirement, being involved with local families and the wider community through my involvement with the Mottingham Community and Learning Shop and Bromley Children Project.

Q Tell us more about Community Brunch – sounds tasty!

A It is! We’ve been running brunch since 2017. It’s a weekly project mainly attended by our older community members but with families often attending in school holidays. We run for approximately 50 weeks each year. In non-Covid times, we supply a continental style buffet followed by a cooked breakfast. We’ve seen numbers grow over the years and have seen new “brunchers” get a warm welcome, with invitations to join tables and (we’re told) people feel less isolated, more supported and with new friendships since attending.

UPDATE ON StEP PROJECTS

Brunch will continue from Thursday 5th November as a delivery/collection service only until the current lockdown restrictions are eased.

Play & Stay Story and Sing Time will continue as a virtual session each Tuesday at 10.00 am.

Mini-Ed’s and #Kidspace will continue as a virtual session each Wednesday at 6.15 pm.

Counselling is still available for existing and new clients to this service by phone or video link.

StEP will continue to keep in touch with those attending their projects by phone on a regular basis but if anyone would like to be added to a list for a regular call or needs support then contact StEP by phoning Sue Turner on 07894857262.