Our History - First Steps ED

2004

First Steps Derbyshire created by our Founder, Cathy Cleary MBE, a former sufferer of an eating disorder as a teenager.

Cathy together with another volunteer began to raise awareness of eating disorders within the community and soon other people attending the self-help groups wanted to help spread the word.

2008

BBC Children in Need awarded First Steps with its first “substantial” grant.

2009

We were awarded a three year grant from the Volunteering England Fund.

The growth of First Steps during this time led to us finding a larger space to operate. We moved to Osmaston Road in Derby that allowed specific support for up to 20 young people per year and a range of complementary therapies for up to 25 people per year, provided by students on placements from the University of Derby.

Our volunteer numbers had increased from 5 to 24.

We were then sub-contracted by NHS Derbyshire Healthcare Foundation Trust to provide Integrated Community Support.

2012

Began to offer CPD accredited training to professionals working in the NHS, schools, and counsellors working in health and private practice.

2013

First Steps achieved the PQASSO Quality Mark which is the National Community Voluntary Organisations Trusted Charity quality assurance framework.

2015

First Steps secured a 2+1 year NHS contract to provide support to students at the University of Nottingham and Nottingham Trent University.

2016

First Steps was awarded The Queens Award for Voluntary Services. This is the highest award given to volunteer groups across the UK and is to recognise the outstanding work done in their own communities. It is classed as the MBE for volunteer groups.

2017

Achieved the PQASSO Gold Standard.

Won the GSK IMPACT Award through The Kings Fund. Also won a prestigious Health Service Journal (HSJ) Value Award in the ‘Supported Self Care’ category.

Our volunteer led Online Befriending service was recognised by the sponsor, NHS England, Integrated Personal Commissioning national team as ‘a wonderful, inspiring example of a truly person centered service that compliments local NHS services and that demonstrably transforms people’s lives’.

2019

Cathy took a step back and the charity appointed our first Chief Executive Officer.

We became First Steps ED and a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (1185092) following endorsement from our members at the 2018/19 Annual General Meeting.

Our Volunteer services were once again recognised winning the East Midlands Charity Awards Volunteer Team of the Year, and our staff and NHS Derbyshire Eating Disorders colleagues collected a Special Recognition Award in the National 3rd Sector Care Awards for our Integrated Community Services.

Our founder, Cathy, collected a lifetime achievement award at the Midlands Business, Community and Charity Sector Awards and received her MBE in the 2020 New Year’s Honours List.

Present

We continue to develop as a not for profit organisation by people who have lived experience of eating disorders and co-occuring mental health disorders, either personally or through caring for someone close to them.

As ever, we are finding new ways to adapt to a changing environment for disordered eating and disorders and working closely with our partners within healthcare and across education, using our experiences and service user voice to advance research, policy and service co-production so that more individuals and families receive the support they need and deserve from integrated services focused on joined up care.