Stepping Stones North Wales awarded Investing in Volunteers accreditation
5th November 2026
Stepping Stones North Wales, a North Wales-based charity providing free counselling and ongoing support to adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse and their loved ones, is proud to have been awarded the prestigious Investing in Volunteers accreditation following a rigorous independent assessment. This is the first time the charity has been awarded the UK quality standard, which recognises how organisations welcome, support and develop their volunteers.
Phil Eastment, Chief Executive Officer of Stepping Stones North Wales, said:
“Our volunteers are not simply an addition to our services, they are at the very heart of our charity. Many bring lived experience of the devastating impact of childhood sexual abuse and have chosen to use their experiences to help others rebuild their lives. I am inspired every day by our volunteers' courage, generosity, resilience and compassion.
“What makes this award particularly meaningful is that the independent assessors recognised not only the quality of our volunteering programme, but also the genuine sense of belonging, appreciation and purpose our volunteers experience. As we look to expand our services across North Wales, our volunteers will play an increasingly important role in helping survivors rebuild their confidence, develop friendships, learn new skills and rediscover opportunities that trauma may have taken away.”
Investing in Volunteers is the UK quality standard for organisations that involve volunteers. It aims to improve their experience and recognises organisations that value the enormous contribution volunteers make.
The Chair of UK Volunteering Forum, Denise Hayward, said:
“UKVF is delighted to announce Stepping Stones North Wales successful achievement of this Award, they have demonstrated a real commitment to volunteering, proven that their volunteer management policies and procedures meet nationally recognised standards.”
Stepping Stones North Wales was assessed against six quality areas covering its vision and planning for volunteering, inclusion, recruitment and welcoming, support, and how it values and develops its volunteers.
Established in 1984 and registered as a charity in 1995, Stepping Stones North Wales has its main office in Wrexham and supports people across Anglesey, Conwy, Denbighshire, Flintshire, Gwynedd and Wrexham.
The charity provides free professional counselling and ongoing support to adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse and their loved ones. Its services include art therapy, education and wellbeing groups, alongside trauma-informed support for families. Through this work, it helps survivors rebuild their lives and addresses the effects of childhood trauma on relationships and family life, supporting healing across generations.
To find out more about volunteering for Stepping Stones please email Freya@ssnw.wales or visit volunteering Wales - Stepping Stones North Wales - Organisation - Volunteering Wales