Stepping Stones North Wales wins GSK IMPACT Award

12th March 2025

Stepping Stones North Wales, with offices in Wrexham, Conwy and on Ynys Môn, has won one of this year's GSK IMPACT Awards, a sought-after accolade for health care charities in the UK. The charity has been recognised for its compelling work supporting the mental and physical wellbeing of adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse.

Childhood sexual abuse remains shrouded in stigma and taboo, making it difficult for many to seek help. The award judges were particularly struck by the charity's determination to reach survivors, often with high vulnerability, to provide the counselling and support they may need.

Following a rigorous selection and assessment process, Stepping Stones North Wales was chosen from a record number of award entries as one of the 10 winners of the 2025 GSK IMPACT Awards. Now in its 28th year, the awards are delivered in partnership with leading health and care charity The King's Fund. The awards are widely seen as a mark of excellence in the charity health sector and are designed to recognise outstanding small and medium-sized charities working to improve people's health and wellbeing in the UK. 

As an award winner, Stepping Stones will now receive £40,000 in unrestricted funding as well as a place on a highly sought-after leadership development programme provided by The King's Fund.  

In 2019, the Crime Survey for England and Wales found that 1 in 4 women and 1 in 6 men experience abuse before the age of 16 - and the true number may be higher, due to stigma in disclosure. For many victims and survivors, effects endure throughout adult life, affecting psychological and physical wellbeing, family and intimate relationships, education and career. Around half of adults who experienced childhood abuse experience domestic abuse later in life.

Stepping Stones reports people across North Wales who use their services mirror these national findings. Many experience trauma-related symptoms and develop mental health conditions as well as chronic pain, have high levels of social isolation and are unable to move on with their lives. In February, the Ministry of Justice announced the three-year time limit for child sex abuse victims to launch civil action will be removed in England.

Stepping Stones was established in 1984 by two social workers who saw a gap in services for people abused in childhood. Today, it provides free unlimited counselling to survivors, their families and friends, as well as group activities such as art therapy, educational courses and work to raise awareness in the community.

The charity also provides additional support to those receiving counselling. One of its courses, Next Steps to Wellbeing, is offered during or after counselling to help build confidence, improve mental health and wellbeing, give access to education and opportunities to learn new skills and crafts; family days are also included, helping break the effects of the cycle of abuse and supporting families to grow stronger together.

In the year ending March 2024, Stepping Stones received over 450 new referrals, with weekly phone calls offered to every new client on the waiting list. A total of 6,400 counselling sessions were delivered to 465 clients, and evaluations show the positive impact of the charity's work on service users' anxiety and depression.

While the financial context in which charities operate is increasingly challenging, the award judges were impressed by Stepping Stones' approach to understanding the needs of their service users and adapt accordingly. For example, many female survivors disclosed to the charity that they felt triggered by cervical smear tests and therefore would avoid screening appointments. As a result, the charity works with partners, including the NHS, to encourage uptake.

The award judges also highlighted the charity's work to bring to the government's attention patterns of demand and gaps in local services and support. For example, in partnership with other charities, Stepping Stones North Wales is exploring why people from LGBTQ+ communities in Wales seldom access sexual violence support services or report abuse to the police. The charity also supports male survivors of childhood sexual abuse who are serving custodial sentences in prisons.

Katie Pinnock, director, UK Charitable Partnerships at GSK, said: "Stepping Stones North Wales is a charity striving for excellence in its work supporting adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse and their loved ones.

"While counselling remains at the heart of its services, it also supports those waiting to access its counselling service, for example by offering weekly telephone calls to everyone on the waiting list, and provides ongoing support to service users.

"It strives to identify underserved groups, has an incredible ability to adapt, and does vital work to address stigma surrounding childhood sexual abuse."

Phil Eastment, CEO of Stepping Stones, added: "We are delighted to have won the award and so proud that the hard work of the whole Stepping Stones North Wales team, including staff, counsellors and our inspirational volunteers, has been recognised.

"Receiving this prestigious award gives us the opportunity to increase our outreach to survivors of childhood sexual abuse across North Wales and to support them in addressing the often hugely complex issues and long-term impact of their trauma.

"Demand for our services continues to increase across North Wales and, working in very challenging circumstances, this award gives our whole team real encouragement to see the value and impact we can have for survivors and their families."