We value the contribution of all service users, families and carers, partners, stakeholders, commissioners, volunteers and our staff.

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 to form a new organisation with national reach, focused on addressing health and social inequalities across the country. 

Humankind’s vision, mission and values

Our Vision

Our vision is for people of all ages to be safe, building ambitions for the future and reaching towards their full potential.

Our Mission

Humankind creates services and support to meet people’s complex health and social needs, helping them to build healthier lives that have meaning and value for themselves and their families. We support local people to create stronger, better-connected communities.

Our Values

Honest: We are open and realistic, building trusted relationships in which we challenge, collaborate and change|
Committed: we are passionate about being the best that we can be, and we do this by keeping people at the heart of everything that we do
Inventive: we are ambitious, drawing together skills and resources to innovate and adapt in determined pursuit of our mission.