Direct Steps

Direct Steps is an adult day care provider based in Peterlee, England, supporting people with learning, physical and sensory disabilities. Opened in 2015, the organisation aims to offer high-quality, person-centred care that reflects each individual’s needs and promotes positive outcomes for service users and their families. Its approach focuses on social inclusion, personal empowerment and helping people reach their full potential.

Services include day centre support, meaningful social activities and opportunities to build social connections. Direct Steps also offers garden therapy, combining gardening with social participation to support physical and mental wellbeing. Service users grow nutritious vegetables to take home, while some produce is donated to local food banks. Flowers grown from seed are used to create hanging baskets and other displays.

The organisation says it adapts its support to changing needs and works to move beyond traditional day service models. Direct Steps is open Monday to Thursday from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and Friday from 8:45 a.m. to 2:45 p.m.; it is closed at weekends.