Humankind (Step Forward Tees Valley)

Humankind was first listed as a registered charity and company in 1984. Back then, we were called Durham Training and Enterprise and focused primarily on vocational preparation programmes for the young, long-term unemployed in County Durham.

In the late 1980s, we began working with youth and adult offenders. This then led the development of innovative services for people who were homeless through the establishment of ‘accommodation registers’ and independent living support for care leavers.

In 1992, to reflect our broadening footprint, we changed our name to DISC – Developing Initiatives for Support in the Community. We continued to develop the range of spread of services that we deliver.  However, in the summer of 2015 we embarked on an exercise with our staff and service users to explore our true values, and to develop a mission and vision for our organisation that really reflects what we are today. Almost three years later, that project evolved and culminated in a re-brand to Humankind.

In April, 2019, Humankind merged with London-based charity Blenheim CDP and in April, 2020, EDP joined us a subsidiary to form a new organisation with national reach, focused on addressing health and social inequalities across the country.

Step Forward Tees Valley

Inspire change and thrive

We help people across the Tees Valley overcome barriers to work or training so they can move forward with their lives.