The Right Worshipful the Mayor, Alderman William Leathem, has chosen Stepping Stones in Lisburn as his Mayoral Charity for his term of office.
The Mayor visited Stepping Stones for a meet and greet session as one of his early Mayoral engagements, with his newly-formed Mayor’s Charity Committee, which enjoys full cross-party representation and for which each district electoral area in the City is represented.
Paula Jennings Chief Officer, Cara Cash, Business Development Manager along with Board members from Stepping Stones provided the Charity Committee with background about Stepping Stones and a tour was provided of the facilities. This included a visit to the Courtyard Coffee Shop, situated at the front of the Stepping Stones building, which is open to the public and staffed by trainees. The Picture Framing workshop was visited as part of the tour and the party were informed about Stepping Stone’s Pink Elephant Cards card-making business, which includes wedding stationery and individual and personalised cards, made by the trainees based at Stepping Stones.
Following the tour, a working lunch was held at the charity’s Avenue Coffee Shop, where fundraising opportunities were discussed and planned for Alderman Leathem’s work with Stepping Stones.
The Mayor said: “This local charity does such sterling work in the community. It provides a practical springboard for young adults with a learning disability or learning difficulty to be equipped with skills which can be transferred into the employment market.
“It is difficult enough for people to gain employment in the current economic climate and for those persons with a learning disability or learning difficulty, the challenge is all the harder. Stepping Stones provides such a vital resource. It has a tailor-made programme of employment skills training and development to help persons achieve their maximum potential.
“Every one of my newly-formed Mayoral Committee members remarked on the fantastic atmosphere and relaxed feel at Stepping Stones. It is a really happy place and for anyone who has not visited its courtyard coffee shop I can highly recommend it.”
“I would really welcome as much support as possible from the Lisburn community and really make a difference to this fantastic local charity,” the Mayor concluded.
Paula, welcoming the Mayor and the Mayoral Committee members party to Stepping Stones commented “Choosing Stepping Stones as the Mayors Charity this year is not only fantastic fundraising opportunity for us, it will also make the Lisburn community aware of the talents and abilities of all the young people accessing our services. It is a great honour for Stepping Stones to be the Mayors Charity this year, and we thank him for the opportunity”.
