Who we are and where we started

Steps to Your Healthy Future started as a Birmingham-based charity in 2017. It was set up to promote and preserve the good health of people suffering or at risk from long-term health conditions such as type-2 diabetes and pre-diabetes, by the provision of support and education. 

In that time we’ve work hard to make measurable changes in the community. Our adaptable programmes have addressed topics such as: 

·       Isolation 

·       Weight loss and diet 

·       Self-belief 

·       Exercise 

·       Management of long-term conditions 

·       Self-empowerment 

Our projects brought the community together in one place, so they are empowered to share and support each other. We continue to run education programmes and follow-on self-sustaining meet-up groups. We recognise some communities need support not only with a specific condition but the wider challenges such as isolation, self-belief and self-worth. We pride ourselves on actively listening to the feedback we receive, allowing us to innovate as we grow. Our aim is to minimise the barriers for people to attend and get the support for their health. 

In reaction to the Covid-19 pandemic, our current online meet-up groups are a way where participants can discuss, share, and communicate their thoughts and experiences in living with diabetes. Coping with diabetes can be intimidating and frustrating, whether you’re coping with a sudden diagnosis of diabetes, someone who has had diabetes for a while, or a family member, carer or friend of someone living with diabetes. During our meet-up groups participants can find information, advice, and are able to chat. We believe having someone to talk to can better help members to cope-deal-accept their new/current lifestyle. We are in this together and can offer understanding, help and support for each other.

"I could never have believed, as I started Steps to Your Healthy Future, to support people in and around Birmingham with long term health conditions, that in later years I would be announcing a relaunch, seeing us grow to a national charity, and allowing us to support more and more people each month. My passion has always been to give people the space they need to share their experiences, have support, and discuss their challenges and successes over a cuppa. To know we are growing each month and helping more people is something I don’t think I will ever get tired of hearing about. I would like to thank everyone who has made this possible from the Board of Trustees and our CEO, to our advocates in the community who champion spreading the message about our groups. Furthermore, without such keen involvement and support from our attending members, this would have been a dream that would have struggled to have been realised. I'm both humbled and grateful to you all. Thank you."

Kate Walker, Chair and Founder of ‘Steps to Your Healthy Future.’ Now ‘Cuppa Squad.’