What is Step and Stone?

Step and Stone is an artisanal bakery in Bristol which specialises in making handmade lavosh, a thin, crunchy Middle Eastern flatbread. The lavosh are made by young people, between the ages of 18 and 25, with learning disabilities; working in the bakery helps them to develop their skills and confidence so they can eventually find employment in the mainstream catering world. The bakery have exciting plans afoot in the form of a café. Watch this space!

Who’s behind Step and Stone?

The bakery is run by Jane Kippax and Jane Chong, friends and mothers of children with Downs Syndrome.

On a daily basis, the two witness the range of abilities their children have, seeing past their disabilities. They wanted to be able to provide young people with learning disabilities with the opportunity to train, work and be supported in seeking employment and for everyone to see these young people in the same way they do. They wanted to go some way in addressing the terrible employment prospects of young people with learning disabilities.

With a joint love of food driving their ideas, Step and Stone bakery was born, now employing some part-time staff, supported by around 11 volunteers, and working with around 20 young trainee bakers.

What makes it great?

Not only is the work that this community interest company is doing for young people with learning disabilities life-changing, but also the lavosh are simply delicious!

The lavosh, which are available in five flavours (classic/plain, poppyseed, sesame seed, smoked paprika and cayenne, rosemary and sea salt), are made using organic and locally-sourced ingredients where possible.

And as if that wasn’t enough, they were recently awarded one star at the Great Taste Awards for their rosemary and sea salt lavosh and are Crumbs Awards 2019 finalist in two categories; Initiative and Food Producer. Fingers crossed for an award!

How can you support Step and Stone?

Seek out the flatbreads at various shops in Bristol and the surrounding areas, including Windmill Hill City Farm, Chandos Deli and Better Food Company. Find your nearest retailer here or follow Step and Stone on Facebook where they are regularly posting about new stockists.

If you’re interesting in volunteering on a regular or occasional basis with Step and Stone, they would love to hear from you.