Who Are Cisco?
Cisco Systems, a global technology leader, specializes in networking, security, and collaboration solutions. Their innovative products and services empower businesses worldwide.
How They Got Involved
Through their Day to give initiative Cisco came in to volunteer in the work ordered day 4 times last year and loved the work we were doing at Stepping Stone. This lead to the start of a great relationship between us both, with the team at CISCO keen to see how else they could be involved.
“Spending a day at Stepping Stone was not exactly the experience I thought it would be. It was supposed to be a group of us CISCO people dropping in for a few hours doing a few odd jobs to help out. It was supposed to be ‘us’ helping ‘them’. Within the first 20 minutes of arriving, the ‘us’ and ‘them’ disappeared and it was done in a way that was inclusive and powerful. One of the members volunteered to manage the allocation of people against the days tasks. It completely relied on people putting their hand up to accept responsibility for each task. This ‘management’ style created a feeling of individual freedom while also creating a certain momentum of effort. I came away seeing a new way of doing things and a wonderful way of creating a team.” - Rob
The team from CISCO busy making lunch with the community at Stepping Stone.
Since this time, we have developed a strong and successful partnership. The team at CISCO have helped us set up our brand new Northside Clubhouse through working bees and online support. They have also linked us in with one of their partners Data3, who have kindly donated computers to the new site. In addition to this CISCO are organising an incredible fundraising event in our name in order to help us raise money to send a team of staff and members over to the Clubhouse International World Seminar later this year. See below for details!
Stepping Stone’s corporate partnership program establishes long term collaborative partnerships with businesses dedicated to helping provide opportunities for people with a mental illness. In doing so, we want to ensure the most productive partnership possible, for both parties. Our corporate partnerships are designed on a case by case basis, making sure we match your strategic vision, suit your social responsibility needs, and that we can all work together for a common cause.
Why choose us?
Stepping Stone works hard to understand your business in order to design an individual program that meets your organisational needs, matches your values and produces the outcomes you want.
Stepping Stone is a respected community organisation. We opened our doors in 1994 and have grown to provide supports and services to over 2000 people in the Greater Brisbane Region since that time. We are a leading mental health service agency in Brisbane, with a variety of programs aimed at working with our members to ensure they have the best opportunities for recovery.
Our fun and engaging team of leaders will work closely with you to develop, manage and grow the relationship.
Not only are you helping people with a mental illness to work towards their individual recovery goals, but you can benefit from enhanced brand image and increased staff loyalty, motivation and retention.
What you can do?
Corporations can support Stepping Stone through a range of financial assistance and/or in kind supports:
Philanthropic gift
Philanthropic organisations achieve results that create real social change. Organisations that want to make their mark in the community can do so by making a generous gift or pledging support over a period of time.
Workplace giving donations
Collectively small contributions make a huge difference and achieve amazing outcomes. Workplace giving can be set up through your organisation’s payroll, as a pre-tax deduction for a prescribed amount per pay period. For more information please contact morag.roseby@steppingstoneclubhouse.org.au
Corporate fundraising
Organisational fundraising activities are an easy and fun way to provide financial support and engage staff. Activities such as raffles, casual dress days, bake offs and morning teas are examples of simple and successful corporate fundraising activities.
Become an Employment Partner
Providing support is about more than just money.
Work gives us purpose and connects us to those around us. It builds community and gives meaning to our lives. But for people with mental illnesses, it is difficult to find and keep a good job. Self-doubt and low self-esteem can be compounded by the terrible feelings that come with unemployment. Because of this, employment is one of the fundamental building blocks of the Clubhouse. Stepping Stone strives to give every person who wants it a chance to work at a real job. You can help us achieve this goal by becoming an Employment Partner, and providing new opportunities to place our members in Transitional, Independent and Supported Employment.
