Second Step
- Charity
- 4,900 sq ft
- Bristol
- Cat B
Services Delivered
A new home for Second Step. Creating an inclusive, uplifting workplace that supports staff, clients, and partners while reflecting the charity’s mission and values.
The Brief
Designing a space that works for everyone balancing functionality, accessibility, and well-being
Bespa delivered a refurbishment and redesign of Second Step’s new home in Bristol, a leading UK mental health charity. The brief was to create a hybrid working environment and consultation facilities that were psychologically informed, inclusive, and environmentally sensitive. By balancing comfort, functionality, and experience, the design was carefully shaped to accommodate diverse ways of working while supporting clients’ well-being. Bespa worked closely with the Second Step team through workshops and consultations to understand their priorities, translating these insights into a design that provides accessibility, sustainability, and an uplifting, welcoming environment for staff, visitors, and partners alike.
Project Impact
- An environment that feels organised, clear, and easy to navigate
- A flexible workplace that meets our needs now and into the future
- A balanced workplace that supports both wellbeing and productivity
Space
The two-floor office, including a 2015 atrium extension, was reimagined to maximise light, accessibility, and adaptability. Staff ‘neighbourhoods’ and collaborative zones sit alongside quiet consultation rooms designed with softer tones for privacy and calm. Shared spaces, including an enlarged reception and breakout area, support social interaction, reflection, and neurodiverse needs. Accessible entrances, upgraded car parking, clear wayfinding, and first-floor adaptations ensure inclusivity for all. The layout fosters flexibility, enabling staff to move between focused work, collaborative tasks, and restorative breaks while welcoming clients into a supportive, thoughtfully organised environment that reinforces the charity’s mission.
Design
Exterior and interior design work rejuvenated the 1970s building with new windows, gutters, fascia, and a cheerful green cladding carried into the interior for continuity. Interior finishes combine natural materials with pops of primary colour and wall graphics, creating a bright, welcoming atmosphere, while softer tones in consultation rooms promote calm. Acoustic partitioning, soundproofing, and fire-rated doors protect privacy, particularly for sensitive client meetings. The rear atrium opens onto staff breakout areas, connecting indoor and outdoor spaces to encourage well-being and movement. Every detail, from accessible facilities to colour choices, was carefully crafted to create a future-ready, inclusive, and uplifting home for the charity’s team and clients.