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← Dorset Mind

2025-03-31-accounts

Company registration number.. 5333018 Charity registration number: 1108168 Dorset Mind (A company limited by guarantee> Annual Report and Audited Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2025 Dorset

Dorset Mind Contents Trustees Report 1 to2 Reference and Adminislralive Details Independent Auditors, Report 3to6 Statement of Financial Activities 7t08 88lan¢e Sheet 91010 Statement of Cash Flows Notes lo the Financial Statements 121023

Dorset Mind Trustees Report Reference and Administrative Details Registered Office 8 Stratfield Saye 20 - 22 Wellinglon Road Bournemouth BH8 8JN Company Registration Number 5333018 Charity Registration Number 1108168 Bankers CAF Bank 25 Kings Hill Avenue West Malling ME19 4TA Trustees and officers The trustees and officers serving during the year and since the year end were as follows.. Trustees.. Charles Alberts {Co-Chair) Msc, Cmgr, MCMI, CertCII Dr Laurence Mynors-wallis (Co-chair) MA, DM, MRCP, FRCPsych Ben Lawes ACCA (Treasurer) Maria Evans (resigned 15 May 2025} Dr Rosalind Maycock BM Calvin Billingon-Glen (resigned 15 May 20251 Samuel Crompton lappoinled 22 May 20241 Jonathan Wootten (appointed 22 May 2024) Elaine Hurll (appointed 22 May 2024 and resigned 15 May 20251 Karen Butcher (appointed 22 May 2024> Chief Executive Officer.. Linda O'sullivan Statement of trustees. responsibllities The trustees (who are also the directors of Dorset Mind for the purposes of company law) are responsible for preparing the trustees, report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards {United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice>, including FRS 102 "The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland" Company law requires the trustees lo prepare financial statements for each financial year. Under company law the trustees must not approve the financial statements unless they are satisfied that they give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including its income and expenditure, of the charitable company for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the trustees are required lo.. select suitable accounting policies and apply them consistently., observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP., Page 1

Dorset Mind Trustees Report make judgements and eslimales that are reasonable and prudent., stale whether applicable accounting standards, comprising FRS 102 have been followed, subject lo any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements; and prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless il is inappropriate to presume that the charitable company will continue in business. The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records that can disclose with reasonable accuracy al any lime the financial position of the charitable company and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charitable company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities. The trustees are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the corporate and financial information included on the charitable company's website. Legislation governing the preparation and dissemination of financial statements may differ from legislation in other jurisdictions. The Trustees have produced a separate 2024125 Annual Report for Dorsel Mind which incorporates the necessary narrative information required by the Slalemenl of Recommended Practice. The annual report was approved by the Iruslees of the charity on 17 December 2025 and signed on its behalf b Ben Lawes ACCA (Treasurer) Trustee Disclosure of information to auditor Each trustee has taken steps that they ought to have taken as a trustee in order to make themselves aware of any relevant audit information and to establish that the charity's auditor is aware of that information. The trustees confirm that there is no relevant information that they know of and of which they know the auditor is unaware. Page 2

Dorset Mind Independent Auditors, Report to the Trustees of Dorset Mind Opinion We have audited the financial statements of Dorset Mind {Ihe charitable company'} for the year ended 31 March 2025 which comprise Statement of Financial Activities, Balance Sheet, Slalemenl of Cash Flows and notes to the financial slatemenls, including significant accounting policies. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards, including FRS 102 The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice). In our opinion, the financial statements.. give a true and fair view of the stale of the charitable company's affairs as at 31 March 2025 and of ils incoming resources and application of resources for the year then ended., have been properly prepared in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice., and have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of Charities Act 2011. Basis for opinion We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) {ISAs (UK)) and applicable law. Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the Auditor's responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements section of our report. We are independent of the charitable company in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant lo our audit of the financial slalements in the UK, including the FRC'S Ethical Standard, and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate lo provide a basis for our opinion. Conclusions relating to going concern In auditing the financial slalements, we have concluded that the trustees use of the going concern basis of accounting in the preparation of the financial statements is appropriate. Based on the work we have performed, we have not identified any material uncertainties relating to events or conditions that, individually or collectively, may cast significant doubt on the charity's ability to continue as a going concern for a period of al least 12 months from when the financial slalements are authorised for issue. Our responsibilities and the responsibilities of the trustees with respect to going concern are described in the relevant sections of this report. other information The other information comprises the information included in the annual report, including the trustees, report, other than the financial statements and our auditor's report Ihereon. The trustees are responsible for the other information contained within the annual report. Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other information and, except to the extent otherwise explicitly slated in our report, we do not express any form of assurance conclusion Ihereon. Our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the financial slalemenls or our knowledge obtained in the course of the audit, or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify such material this gives rise to a material misstalemenl in the financial statements themselves. If, based on the work we have performed. we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other information, we are required to report that fact. We have nothing lo report in this regard. Page 3

Dorset Mind Independent Auditors, Report to the Trustees of Dorset Mind Matters on which we are required to report by exception In the light of the knowledge and understanding of the company and ils environment obtained in the course of the audit, we have not identified material misstatements in the directors, report included within the trustees, report. We have nothing lo report in respect of the following matters in relation to which the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 require us lo report to you if, in our opinion.. adequate and proper accounting records have not been kept, or returns adequate for our audit have not been received from branches not visited by us; or the financial statements are not in agreement with the accounting records and returns., or certain disclosures of Iruslees, remuneration specified by law are not made., or we have not received all the information and explanations we require for our audit. Other matters In the previous accounting period the trustees of the charitable company look advantage of audit exemption under s.477 of the Companies Act 2026. Therefore, the prior period financial slalemenls were not subject lo audit. Responsibilities of trustees As explained more fully in the trustees, responsibilities statement set out on page 2, the trustees (who are also the directors of the charitable company for the purposes of company law) are responsible for the preparation of the financial slalemenls and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair view, and for such internal control as the trustees determine is necessary to enable the preparation of financial slalements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error. In preparing the financial statements, the trustees are responsible for assessing the company's ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related lo going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless the trustees either intend to liquidate the company or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative bul to do so. Auditor's responsibllities for the audit of the financial statements We have been appointed as auditor under section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 and report in accordance with the Act and relevant regulations made or having effect thereunder. Our objectives are lo obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether due lo fraud or error, and lo issue an auditor's report that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance, bul is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with ISAS (UK} will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misslatemenls can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected lo influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these financial statements. Irregularities, including fraud, are instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations. We design procedures in line with our responsibilities, outlined above, to delect material misstatements in respect of irregularities, including fraud. The exlenl to which our procedures are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud is detailed below.. Our approach to identifying and assessing the risks of material misstatement in respect of irregularities, including fraud and non-compliance with laws and regulations, was as follows.. Page 4

Dorset Mind Independent Auditors, Report to the Trustees of Dorset Mind the engagement director ensured that the engagement team collectively had the appropriate competence, capabilities, and skills lo identify or recognise non-compliance with applicable laws and regulations., • we identified the Saws and regulations applicable to the charity through disGussions with trustees and other management, and from our knowledge and experience of the charity sector. we focused on specific laws and regulations which we considered may have a direct material effect on the financial slalements or the operations of the charity, including charity regulations and health and safety legislation; we assessed the exlenl of compliance with the laws and regulations identified above through making enquiries of management and inspecting legal correspondence. and identified laws and regulations were communicated within the audit team regularly and the team remained alert lo instances of non-compliance throughout the audit. We assessed the susceplibilily of the charity's financial statements to material misstalemenl, including obtaining an understanding of how fraud might occur, by.. • making enquiries of management as to where they considered there was susceplibilily lo fraud, their knowledge of actual, suspected, and alleged fraud., considering the internal controls in place to mitigate risks of fraud and non-compliance with laws and regulations,. and To address the risk of fraud through management bias and override of controls, we-. performed analytical procedures to identify any unusual or unexpected relationships., tested journal entries lo identify unusual transactions., investigated the rationale behind significant or unusual transactions, and In response lo the risk of irregularities and non-compliance with laws and regulations, we designed procedures which included, but were not limited to.. agreeing financial statement disclosures lo underlying supporting documentation., reading the minutes of meetings of those charged with governance., enquiring of management as lo actual and potential litigation and claims., There are inherent limitations in our audit procedures described above. The more removed that laws and regulations are from financial transactions, the less likely it is that we would become aware of non-compliance. Auditing standards also limit Ihe audit procedures required lo identify non-compliance with laws and regulations lo enquiry of the directors and other management and the inspection of regulatory and legal correspondence, if any. Material misstatements that arise due to fraud can be harder lo detect than those that arise from error as they may involve deliberate coneealmenl or collusion. A further description of our responsibilities is available on the Financial Reporting Council's website at.. www.frc.org.uklauditorsresponsibililies. This description forms part of our aLidilor's report. Edwards and Keeping Limited is eligible for appointment as auditor of the charitable company by virtue of ils eligibility for appointment as auditor of a company under section 1212 of the Companies Act 2006. Use of our report This report is made solely lo the charitable company's members, as a body, in accordance with Part 4 of the Charities (accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008.our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the charitable company's members those matters we are required lo stale to them in an auditor's report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the charitable company and the charitable company's members as a body, for our audit work, for this report. or for the opinions we have formed. Page 5

Dorset Mind Independent Auditors, Report to the Trustees of Dorset Mind Edwards and Keeping Limited, Stalulory Auditor Unity Chambers 34 High East Street Dorchesler Dorsel DT1 1HA Dale..&l... t>e.(th..6....Jp..'3 Page 6

Dorset Mind Statement of Financial Activities for the Year Ended 31 March 2025 (Including Income and Expenditure Account) Unrestricted funds Restricted funds Total 2025 Note Income and Endowments from: Voluntary income Charitable activities Investment income 260,520 303,868 2,559 233,433 328,263 493,953 632,131 2,559 Total Income 566,947 561,696 1,128,643 Expenditure on: Raising funds Charitable activities 115,070) 382,761) (15,070) 939,908} 557,147} Total Expenditure 397,831) 1557,147) 954,978} Nel income Transfers behveen funds 169,116 1103,3931 4,549 103,393 173,665 Net movement in funds 65,723 107,942 173,665 Reconciliation of funds Total funds brought forward 69,429 50,238 119,667 Total funds carried fonmard 16 135,152 158,180 293,332 The notes on pages 12 10 23 form an integral part of these financial slalemenls. Page 7

Dorset Mind Statement of Financial Activities for the Year Ended 31 March 2025 (Including Income and Expenditure Account) Unrestricted funds Restricted Total funds 2024 £ £ (As restated) Note Income and Endowments from: Voluntary income Charitable activities Investment income 374,284 462,016 3,610 126,984 501,268 462,016 3,610 Total income 839,910 126,984 966,894 Expenditure on: Raising funds Charitable activities {20,152} 946,2571 120,152) {1,344,8761 (398,619 Total expenditure 1966,409 1398,619) 11,365,028) Nel expenditure (126,499 1271,635 (398,134) Nel movement in funds 1126,4991 1271,635} (398,134) Reconciliation of funds Total funds brought forward 195,928 321,873 517,801 Total funds carried forward 16 69,429 50,238 119,667 All of the charity's activities derive from continuing operations during the above two periods. The funds breakdown for 2024 is shown in note 16. The notes on pages 12 10 23 form an integral part of these financial slatemenls. Page 8

Dorset Mind (Registration number: 5333018) Balance Sheet as at 31 March 2025 2024 £(As restated) 2025 Note Fixed assets Tangible assets Debtors due within one year Cash at bank and in hand 2,959 9,052 87,376 261,896 54,446 153,708 349,272 208,154 Creditors: Amounts falling due within one year 58,899) {97,5391 Net current assets 290,373 110,615 Net assets 293,332 119,667 Funds of the charity: Restricted income funds Reslricled funds 158,180 50.238 Unrestricted income funds Unrestricted funds 135,152 69,429 Total funds 16 293,332 119,667 The notes on pa9es 12 10 23 form an integral part of these financial slalemenls. Page 9

Dorset Mind (Registration number: 5333018) Balance Sheet as at 31 March 2025 The financial statements on pages 7 to 23 were approved by the Iruslees, and authoiised for issue on 17 December 2025 and signed on their behalf by.. Ben Lawes ACCA (Treasurer) Trustee The notes on pages 12 10 23 form an integral part of these financial slalemenls. Page 10

Dorset Mind Statement of Cash Flows for the Year Ended 31 March 2025 2025 2024 Note Cash flows from operating a¢tivities Nel cash incomellexpenditurel 173,665 1398,134) Adjustments to cash flows from non-cash items Depreciation Investment income 6,093 {2,559) 177,199 8,486 13,610 1393.2581 Working Capital adjustments {Increase}Idecrease in debtors IDecrease)lincrease in creditors IDecrease)lincrease in deferred income Nel cash flows from operating activities 12 (32,9301 (32,4451 6,1951 20,178 2,185 105,629 (317,710) Cash flows from investing activities Interest receivable and similar income 2,559 3,610 Net increaselldecrease) in cash and cash eouivalents Cash and cash equivalents at 1 April 108,188 {314,100) 467,808 153,708 Cash and cash equivalents at 31 March 261,896 153,708 All of the cash flows are derived from continuing operations during the above two periods. The notes on pages 12 10 23 form an integral part of these financial slalements. Page12

Dorset Mind Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2025 1 Accounting policies Summary of significant accounting policies and key a¢¢ounting estimates The principal accounting policies applied in the preparation of these financial slalemenls are sel out below. These policies have been consistently applied lo all the years presented, unless olhepNise slated. Statement of compliance The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Accounting and Reporting by Charities.. Statement of Recommended Practice (applicable to Charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102)) {Charities SORP (FRS 102)), the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102} and the Companies Act 2006. Basis of preparation Dorset Mind meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS 102. Assets and liabilities are initially recognised at historical cost or transaction value unless othenwise staled in the relevant accounting policy notes. Dorset Mind is a registered charity, registration number 1108168, company nlimber 5333018, registered in the United Kingdom. The address of the charity is given in the reference and adminislralive details on page 1 of these financial statements. The nature of the charity s operations and principal activities are described in the Trustees annual report. The financial statements are prepared in sterling which is the functional currency of the charity and rounded to the nearest £. Going Concern The trustees consider that there are no material uncertainties about the charity's ability lo continue as a going concern nor any significant areas of uncertainty that affect the carrying value of assets held by the charity. Page 12

Dorset Mind Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2025 Prior period errors Wages and salaries costs were previously included in the financial statements on a month-by-monlh basis. On review of the employee contracts, which remunerate employees from a date part way though the month, an adjuslmenl has been made lo apportion the cost in line with the contracts. Per original Restated financial financial statements statements 31 March Prior period 31 March 2024 adjustment 2024 Wages and salaries Wages payable 1,081,115 35,874 (35,874) 1,116,989 35,8741 Income and endowments Voluntary income including donations, gifts and grants that provide core funding or are of a general nature is recognised when the Charity has entitlement to the income, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured with sufficient reliability. Grants receivable Grants are recognised when the charity has an entitlement lo the funds and any conditions linked lo the grants have been met Where performance conditions are attached to the grant and are yet to be mel, the income is recognised as a liability and included on the balance sheet as deferred income to be released. Deferred income Deferred income represents amounts received for future periods and is released lo incoming resources in the period for which, it has been received. Such income is only deferred when.. The donor specifies that the grant or donation musl only be used in future accounting periods., or The donor has imposed conditions which must be mel before the charity has unconditional entitlement. Charitable activities Income from charitable activities includes income recognised as earned las the related services are provided). Expenditure All expenditure is recognised once there is a legal or constructive obligation to that expenditure, it is probable settlement is required and the amount can be measured reliably. All costs are allocated lo the applicable expenditure heading that aggregate similar costs lo that category. Where costs cannot be directly attributed to particular headings they have been allocated on a basis consistent with the use of resources, with central staff costs allocated on the basis of lime spent, and depreciation charges allocated on the portion of the asset's use. Other support costs are allocated based on the spread of staff costs. Page 13

Dorset Mind Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2025 Raising funds These are costs incurred in attracting voluntary income, the management of investments and those incurred in trading activities that raise funds. Charitable activities Charitable expenditure comprises those costs incurred by the charity in the delivery of ils activities and services for ils beneficiaries. 11 includes both costs that can be allocated directly to such activities and those costs of an indirect nature necessary to support them. Governance costs These include the costs attributable lo the charity's compliance with conslitulional and stalulory requirements, including audit, strategic management and trustees meetings and reimbursed expenses. Irrecoverable VAT Irrecoverable VAT is charged against the category of resources expended for which il was incurred. Tangible fixed assets Individual fixed assets are initially recorded at cost, less any subsequent accumulated depreciation and subsequent accumulated impairment losses. Depreciation and amortisation Depreciation is provided on tangible fixed assets so as lo write off the cost or valuation, less any estimated residual value, over their expected useful economic life as follows.. Asset class Computer equipment Office equipment and fixtures Depreciation method and rate 3 years straight line basis 5 years slraighl line basis Trade debtors Trade debtors are amounts due from customers for merchandise sold or services performed in the ordinary course of business. Trade debtors are recognised initially at the transaction price. They are subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method, less provision for impairment. A provision for the impairment of trade debtors is established when there is objective evidence that the charity will not be able to collect all amounts due according to the original terms of the receivables. Cash and cash equivalents Cash and cash equivalents comprise cash on hand and call deposits, and other short-term highly liquid investments that are readily convertible lo a known amoLinl of cash and are subject lo an insignificant risk of change in value. Page 14

Dorset Mind Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2025 Trade creditors Trade creditors are obligations lo pay for goods or services that have been acquired in the ordinary course of business from suppliers. Accounts payable are classified as current liabilities if the charity does not have an unconditional right, al the end of the reporting period, lo defer settlement of the creditor for at least twelve months after the reporting dale. If there is an unconditional right lo defer settlement for al least twelve months after the reporting date, they are presented as non-current liabilities. Trade creditors are recognised initially at the transaction price and subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method. Fund structure Unrestricted income funds are general funds that are available for use al the Iruslees discretion in furtherance of the objectives of the charity. Designated funds comprise unrestricted funds that have been sel aside by the Trustees for particular purposes. The aim and use of each designated fund is set out in the notes to the financial slalements. Restricted income funds are those donated for use in a particular area or for specific purposes, the use of which is restricted to that area or purpose. Pensions and other post retirement obligations The charity operates a defined contribution plan for the benefit of its employees. Contributions are expensed as they become payable. 2 Income from donations Unrestricted funds General Restricted funds Total 2025 Total 2024 Donations and legacies., Appeals and donations Legacies Grants, including capital grants,. Grants received 242,202 10,625 20,957 263,159 10,625 323,930 7,693 212,476 220,169 493,953 177,338 260,520 233,433 501,268 Page 1J

Dorset Mind Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2025 3 Income from charitable activities Unrestricted funds General Restricted funds Total 2025 Total 2024 Contract income Provision of training Provision of counselling Trading income 303,568 300 310,264 613,832 300 17,999 433,855 18,796 8,940 425 17,999 303,868 328,263 632,131 462,016 4 Investment income Unrestricted funds General Total 2025 Total 2024 Interest receivable and similar income., Interest receivable on bank deposits 2,559 2,559 3,610 5 Expenditure on raising funds a) Fundraising expenditure Unrestricted funds General Total 2025 Total 2024 Note Other direct costs 15,070 15,070 20,152 Page 16

Dorset Mind Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2025 6 Expenditure on charitable activities Total 2025 Total 2024 Wages and salaries Service delivery costs Staff costs (HR Support, travel expenses, staff training etc.) Office expenses Premises costs Sundry expenses including irrecoverable VAT Subscriptions and affiliation fees Advertising and promotion Professional fees Bank charges Depreciation Governance costs {see note below) 767,939 17,292 27,459 23,063 47,591 5,433 3,811 2,131 32,435 383 6,093 6,278 1,116,989 36,070 29,880 35,120 54,371 11,738 1,678 4,248 43,758 1,859 8,486 679 939,908 1,344,876 Governance costs Unrestricted funds Total 2025 Total 2024 General Audit fees Audit of the financial statements Independent Examiner's remuneration Trustees expenses 6,000 6,000 650 29 278 278 6,278 6,278 679 7 Trustees remuneration and expenses During the year, one trustee was remunerated £3,212 12024 £680) for emergency bookkeeping services. Trustees were reimbursed expenses lolalling £278 (2024 £29}. No trustees have received any other benefits from the charity during the year. Page 17

Dorset Mind Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2025 8 Staff costs The aggregate payroll costs were as follows.. 2024 £{As restated) 2025 Staff costs during the year were: Wages and salaries Social security costs Pension costs 707,974 47,327 82,638 1,028,384 73,347 15,258 767,939 1,116,989 The monthly average number of persons (including senior management team) employed by the charity during the year was as follows.. 2025 2024 No 53 39 The number of employees whose emoluments fell within the following bands was.. 2025 No 2024 No £60,001 - £70,000 The total employee benefits of the key management personnel of the charity were £104,61612024 £191,133) 9 Net incomlngloutgoing resources Net incomingl{outgoingl resources for the year include.. 2025 2024 Audit fees Depreciation of fixed assets Independent examiners fee Operating leases computer software Operating leases office rent 6,000 6,093 8,486 650 5,508 27,592 5,425 22,957 10 Taxation The company is a registered charity and il's activities are therefore exempt from taxation. Page 18

Dorset Mind Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2025 11 Tangible fixed assets Office and Computer equipment Cost Al 1 April 2024 50.169 Al 31 March 2025 50,169 Depreciation At 1 April 2024 Charge for the year At 31 March 2025 41,117 6,093 47,210 Net book value At 31 March 2025 2,959 Al 31 March 2024 9,052 12 Debtors 2025 2024 Trade debtors Prepayments and accrued income VAT recoverable 9,134 77,112 1,130 27,566 26,467 413 87,376 54,446 13 Creditors: amounts falling due within one year 2024 £(As restated) 23,154 17,677 35,874 3.633 11,006 6,195 2025 Trade creditors Other taxation and social security Other creditors Pension scheme creditor Accruals Deferred income 10,266 9,185 20,991 18,457 58,899 97,539 Page 19

Dorset Mind Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2025 14 Pension and other schemes Defined contribution pension scheme The charity operates a defined contribution pension scheme. The pension cost charge for the year represents contributions payable by the charity to the scheme and amounted lo £12,638 (2024 £15,258). Contributions tolalling £nil {2024.' £3,633) were outstanding at the year end and are included in creditors. 15 Commitments Leasing commitments The charity has entered into operating leases for office rent. The lolal amount Contracted for but not provided in the financial statements was £9,119 (2024 £18,343). Page 20

Dorset Mind Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2025 16 Funds As restated Balance at 1 April 2024 Balance at 31 March 2025 Incoming Resources resources Èxpended Transfers Unrestricted funds General Unrestricted fund 69,429 566,947 1397,831) {103,393} 135,152 Restricted funds Active monitoring Men in mind Wailing well Mentoring and support Mums in mind Counselling Eco in mind 310,264 10,582 94,203 20,957 100,000 17,999 7,691 (383,740} 118,067) 170,642) 143,328) 111,419) 120,353) 9,598) 73,476 15,485 8,000 61,599 38,038 12,200 10,171 88,581 2,354 1,907 Total restricted funds 50,238 561,696 {557,147) 103,393 158,180 Total funds 119,667 1,128,643 954,9781 293,332 Page 21

Dorset Mind Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2025 As restated Resources Balance at 31 expended March 2024 Balance at 1 April 2023 Incoming resources Unrestricted funds General Unreslricled fund 195,928 839,910 {966,409> 69,429 Restricted Active monitoring Adult 'The Gap, The Dorset Community Mental Health Alliance Training Men in mind Peer support Winter resilience fund Youth appeal Ukraine support Training, empowering minds Waiting well Mentoring and support 31,500 496 14,000 {45,500) 1496) 63,630 1,240 3,505 9,386 175,649 13,586 4,881 18,000 28,000 (91,630) {1 ,240) {3,505) (9,386) {175,649> (13,586) {4,881) (18,000) 131,962) {2,784) 70,000 14,984 38,038 12,200 Total restricted funds 321,873 126,984 {398,619} 50,238 Total funds 517,801 966,894 {1,365,028) 119,667 Page 22

Dorset Mind Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 March 2025 17 Analysis of net assets between funds Unrestricted funds General Total funds at 31 March 2025 Restricted funds Tangible fixed assets Current assets Current liabilities 2,959 191,092 58,899) 2,959 349,272 (58,8991 293,332 158,180 Total net assets 135,152 158,180 Unrestricted funds General Total funds at 31 Mar¢h 2024 Restricted funds Tangible fixed assets Current assets Current liabilities 9,052 157,916 97,539) 9,052 208,154 (97,539 119,667 50,238 Total nel assets 69,429 50,238 18 Related party transactions There were no related party transactions in the year, other than what has been disclosed in relation lo trustees. Page 23

IMPACT REPORT 2025

DORSET MIND IS A REGISTERED CHARITY NO. 1108168 AND IS REGISTERED IN ENGLAND AS A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE NO. 5333018. DM437

DORSET MIND IMPACT REPORT

2024-2025

Our Vision, Purpose and Aim Our Vision:

A community where living with and talking about Mental Health becomes acceptable for everyone.

Purpose:

We connect minds: We bring people together to make change in their communities. We change minds: We speak out and demand better from policymakers and the public. We support minds: We deliver life-changing support.

Our Aim:

We will connect minds by working in partnership and through communities.

We will continue to change minds across the county. We will develop our offer to support minds in order to reduce the postcode inequality and inequity for access.

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DORSET MIND IMPACT REPORT

2024-2025

CONTENTS

An Introduction from our CEO
Reflection from our Co-Chairs, Board of Trustees
Our Impact
Operations - Adults Services
Active Monitoring
Triage
Access Wellbeing
Adult Counselling
Information Services Mailbox Signposting
Mentoring Minds
Peer Support
In Mind Groups
Operations - Children and Young People
The Waiting Well Project
Mentoring Minds for Young People
Active Monitoring for Young People in Primary Care N
CYP Counselling
Volunteers
Dorset Mind Ambassadors
Legacies
Income Generation
Corporate Fundraising
Bids and Grants
How we raised our funds
Marketing and Digital Content
Finance
How we spent our money
Central Operations
Thank You's
Our people
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etworks (PCNs)
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DORSET MIND IMPACT REPORT

2024-2025

AN INTRODUCTION FROM OUR CEO

Our staff have worked tirelessly to meet the rising demand for mental health support. Their professionalism, empathy, and dedication ensure that people across Dorset are met with understanding and care when they need it most. I want to express my deepest gratitude for the passion they bring to their roles every single day.

Our volunteers—who give their time, energy, and hearts—are the living embodiment of community spirit. Whether facilitating groups, supporting events, offering peer support, or working behind the scenes, they create safe, welcoming spaces where people feel valued and never alone. Dorset Mind simply could not fulfil its mission without you.

And to our funders, partners, and supporters: thank you. Your generosity is not just financial—it is a profound statement of belief in our purpose. Your support enables us to reach further, innovate more boldly, and ensure that our services remain accessible to those who need them. You are vital to the community network we are building.

As we close another year at Dorset Mind, I am deeply moved by the commitment, compassion, and resilience shown by everyone connected to our charity. This year has reinforced a truth that sits at the heart of everything we do: the path forward—for our organisation and for the people we support—lies in community connection.

Across Dorset, individuals continue to face mounting pressures: financial uncertainty, loneliness, and the ongoing emotional toll of recent years. Yet despite these challenges, I have seen extraordinary examples of people coming together, offering support, and rebuilding a sense of belonging. It is in these moments of connection that hope is restored and wellbeing begins to grow.

As we look ahead, our direction is clear. We will continue strengthening connections—between people, communities, organisations, and support networks. We will invest in partnerships, expand our presence across Dorset, and create more opportunities for individuals to come together, share experiences, and find hope through one another.

Because when a community is connected, it becomes compassionate. And when it becomes compassionate, it becomes powerful.

To everyone who has contributed to our work this year—staff, volunteers, funders, partners, and supporters—thank you. Together, we are building a future where mental wellbeing is supported, understood, and championed across Dorset.

LINDA O’SULLIVAN

CEO, DORSET MIND

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DORSET MIND IMPACT REPORT

2024-2025

REFLECTION FROM OUR CO-CHAIRS, BOARD OF TRUSTEES

This has been a challenging but exciting year for Dorset Mind. We have continued to focus on advocating and providing support for those across Dorset with mental health difficulties. There remains an unmet need across the county for what we do and we hope that this report will encourage people to contact us both to receive support and to get involved in the work we do.

We recognise that we can't work alone and we are particularly proud of the services we provide alongside many partners across the county, including a number of PCNs with whom we are contracted to provide Active monitoring. This service is delivered by trained staff that can offer support for individuals with mental health difficulties, provide hope and set them on a path for recovery. In North Dorset we deliver Access Wellbeing.

We are particularly proud of the many groups that we operate across the county, including Mothers in Mind, Active in Mind, Eco in Mind, MindOut LGBTQIA+, Men in Mind, Women in Mind, and Wellbeing in Mind. Our intention is to increase our reach across the County in 2026.

A real highlight of 2025 has been The Waiting Well Initiative – a service for young people with mental health difficulties who would otherwise be struggling to access support. This service has transformed the lives of the young people that we have served.

In providing all the services, we recognise the hard work and dedication of our

employees. People who work in Dorset Mind do so because of a desire to help and make a difference.

We would like to thank everyone who made a contribution to Dorset Mind, especially our supporters, patron, ambassadors, volunteers and our trustees and all our funders. The charity simply cannot run without them. We are always looking for new volunteers and Trustees to support us at Dorset Mind. If anyone would like to become involved please make contact.

Left to right: Top Row – Jonathan Wootten, Jane Burns, Samuel Crompton, Elaine Hurll, Karen Butcher, Calvin Glen, Charles Alberts.

LAURENCE MYNORS-WALLIS & CHARLES ALBERTS

CO-CHAIRS DORSET MIND

Front Row – Ben Lawes, Dr Laurence Mynor-Wallis, Dr Ros Maycock.

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DORSET MIND IMPACT REPORT

2024-2025

OUR IMPACT

Across Dorset, we reached 3,567 people with DIRECT SUPPORT!

Helping: 1,667 Adults with 1-2-1 and group support 997 adults by email 370 people by phone 588 children and young people with 1-2-1 and group support 25 people with a wellbeing workshop

Speaking to: 2,500 people at events who were listened to and carefully signposted to events

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OPERATIONS - ADULTS SERVICES & LV’ aEDesa——

ACTIVE MONITORING

Active Monitoring provides 1- 2-1 support for adults and young people, accessed through GP surgeries.

We are currently working with six Primary Care Networks (PCNs). These include Bournemouth Central PCN, Poole Central PCN, Purbeck PCN, Weymouth and Portland PCN, Poole North PCN, and North Bournemouth PCN.

We have three Services Team Leaders supporting our 10 Adult Active Monitoring Practitioners who are now providing support across 30 GP surgeries.

DORSET MIND IMPACT REPORT

2024-2025

1,221

4,029

Adults supported by the Active Monitoring team

sessions offered to their clients.

80.82%

82.55%

of these participants had a significant improvement in their anxiety scores (GAD-7 scores improved from 12 to 7).

of these participants had a significant improvement in their depression scores (PHQ-9 scores improved from 13 to 8).

80.28%

of these participants had a significant improvement in their wellbeing scores (WEMWBS scores improved from 36 to 44).

EVENTS IN COMMUNITY

Our team members for the Purbeck PCN, attended an INT event at the Mowlem Theatre on Thursday 2nd October.

They took part in the film ‘Health Services in Purbeck’ where they spoke about Dorset Mind’s Active Monitoring services and the positive impact these have within the local community. The 35-minute film showcased the work of local health services in Purbeck and was attended by members of the public, colleagues, friends, and family

In addition, Charlotte and Ellie-Mae hosted a Dorset Mind information stand, where they shared resources and spoke with members of the public and professionals about the wider range of Dorset Mind services. The stand attracted considerable interest, providing an excellent opportunity to raise awareness and strengthen local connections.

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DORSET MIND IMPACT REPORT

2024-2025

MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS WORKSHOPS

Dorset Mind ran a series of free workshops to offer mental health support to the local community as part of the Mental Health Awareness Week 2005 at The Dolphin Centre in Poole.

Each workshop focused on different aspects of mental health including anxiety, depression, grief and loss, as well as LGBTQI+ workshops.

This is now the 3rd time we have been asked to deliver these workshops as part of the Mental Health Awareness Week, and we are looking forward to many more of these partnerships.

One of our Services Team Leaders, Maria Sarri and one of our Adult Active Monitoring Practitioners, Neil Dyble delivering the Grief and Loss workshop, as part of the MHAW.

DOLPHIN CENTRE WELLBEING HUB

Dorset Mind's Active Monitoring support service at Poole’s Access Wellbeing Hub began in January 2024. Initially, we provided weekly face-to-face sessions on Monday afternoons only. From April 2024 onwards, this offering was expanded to all day on Mondays. | ~~

These sessions are provided currently for patients of Poole North PCN, in accordance with their terms.

Between June and October 2025,

we have supported 18 different patients, across 44 sessions. Feedback from patients indicates that they felt safe with our practitioner and that the 1-2-1 interaction was crucial in their decision to seek support at the Hub.

Neil at the Access Wellbeing Hub in Dolphin Centre, Poole

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DORSET MIND IMPACT REPORT

2024-2025

Adult Active Monitoring Practitioner Neil, who works at Poole Hub

MEN’S MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS EVENT

This June, Dorset Mind - along with other local partners - attended Bournemouth & Poole College for Men's Health Week.

We were able to share information about the range of services provided by Dorset Mind to both staff and students; from 1-2-1 support through our Active Monitoring service, to our Men in Mind group run in partnership with AFC Bournemouth, there are a range of ways that men locally can explore mental health and wellbeing.

This is particularly important given that suicide is now the biggest killer of men under the age of 50. Men's mental health matters.

We understand that life can sometimes feel like a game of Jenga; when things chip away at us, when our support structures are removed, we can begin to wobble.

Sometimes even the smallest thing can cause our tower to collapse. However, we can develop resilience in our own support structures - and that of others - by starting a conversation.

We can begin to re-build by accessing support for our own wellbeing and can likewise help others to find the support that is right for them.

Adam Winter, one of our Adult Active Monitoring Practitioners, attending the Men’s Mental Health Awareness Event in June 2025.

DORSET MIND IMPACT REPORT

2024-2025

ACTIVE MONITORING FEEDBACK

“It was a very positive experience for me. My practitioner was so on point with reading between the lines when I was trying to explain how I was feeling, and that enabled me to understand how I felt, and why, so much better. One of the main things that I found so helpful was he said that I didn't choose to have the childhood that I did, that has made me feel proud of myself despite my start in life. He also said that I didn't choose to have the 'disability' that I have now , which has helped me to accept it - simple words that mean so much. I am very appreciative of having the opportunity to receive this help.”

“I have found the weekly chats encouraging and very supportive. I have learned how to handle my grief in a positive way. I am able to focus on others rather than myself.”

“Excellent service! Had many stresses and this really helped me pull through. I have learnt more awareness and strategies to help myself and as I’m alone someone to talk to.”

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DORSET MIND IMPACT REPORT

2024-2025

TRIAGE

The Triage service has been developed to provide a direct, first contact service to reduce the demand of GP appointments for mental health related concerns. It helps provide earlier access for patients and improves the pathways to existing services by providing a safe and structured appointments.

This service has proven to significantly free up doctors’ and specialist workers to run the interventions. Patients can access their GP surgeries and ask the receptionist to speak to a Triage practitioner, and they are contacted within 24-48 hours for their Triage appointment and avoid long waiting times.

The service is offered via telephone. The call is a 30 minute in-depth, fact finding assessment for people over 18 presenting with any non-clinical mental health difficulties such as stress, anxiety, depression, low mood, bereavement and anger. They are then signposted to relevant services, including Dorset Mind, Steps to Wellbeing, Help and Care, and other local organisations.

They might also be referred back to their GP for additional support such as medication, or sick certificates.

We currently offer this service in two of our PCNs, Weymouth and Portland PCN and Poole North PCN.

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DORSET MIND IMPACT REPORT

2024-2025

TRIAGE FEEDBACK

“Rebecca was very empathetic and really listened. She gave me time to say what I was feeling and I didn’t feel rushed. She followed through and I got a call from the GP the same day. I also received a lot of useful information about support”

“Really nice young lady. Offered me some really good support and is getting the doctor to call me about medication. Sorted out a really good plan. Very happy!”

“Quickness... Knowing that someone was there to help rather than waiting for the doctors surgery to respond. Staff very polite, talking in a calm manner and listening well.”

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ACCESS WELLBEING

Access Wellbeing North Dorset is a new, community-based service designed to make it easier for adults to get mental health and wellbeing support close to home. Run in partnership by Dorset Mind and the NHS, it offers a welcoming, nonjudgmental space where people can drop in without an appointment and talk to trained staff about anything affecting their wellbeing – from anxiety and low mood to issues like housing, relationships, or money worries.

Clare, Katherine, Millie, Laura, and Alex are the Access Wellbeing Coordinators working under the guidance of David Sutherland, Senior Wellbeing Coordinator, to deliver this newly launched service across the ‘North’ of Dorset.

Since April 2025, we've been developing and delivering wellbeing support in key towns including Blandford Forum, Sturminster Newton, Shaftesbury, Gillingham, and Sherborne.

The service offers tailored support based on each individual’s needs. A key part of Access Wellbeing is connecting people to the right support by linking the NHS with the voluntary and community sector (VCS) and collaborating with organisations across the local area.

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DORSET MIND IMPACT REPORT

2024-2025

To make our service as accessible as possible, we're currently based at a number of community drop-in locations:

We continue to build our presence by distributing leaflets, attending PCN-led wellness events, and participating in largescale community events such as the Gillingham and Shaftesbury Show.

We have successfully established Access Wellbeing in all five towns outlined in the contract. In each location, we have made positive contact with both the Older Adults and Adult Community Mental Health Teams (CMHTs), as well as with Primary Care Networks (PCNs) and local social prescribers. Through these connections, we have begun engaging with individuals in the community, and encouragingly, a high percentage of those we’ve met have returned for follow-up contact or support.

All Wellbeing Coordinators are currently seeing clients in their drop-ins and have been met with tremendous support from the on-site staff.

Looking ahead, we are developing strategies to ensure the continued growth and impact of Access Wellbeing. In the short term, our focus is on increasing footfall and visibility in each area, with the aim of encouraging more people to access our services.

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DORSET MIND IMPACT REPORT

2024-2025

Delivered across 6 drop ins in North Dorset since June 2025:

----- Start of picture text -----
130 33 148
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ACCESS WELLBEING FEEDBACK:

“You have continued to offer me one-on-one support, and I am so grateful. I’m now a completely different person from who I was before that first phone call. I can be positive, look forward, and find joy in life again. I have a real reason to live — and I’m enjoying life. My friends have all noticed the change in me.”

Client from Blandford Leisure Centre drop-in, August 2025

“Thank you again for your ongoing support.”

Client feedback from The Vale drop-in, September 2025

“I already feel better just after having this chat with you.”

Client feedback, Shaftesbury drop-in, September 2025

“I’m so pleased that you are here. This is such a good service.”

Client feedback, Riversmeet drop-in, August 2025

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DORSET MIND IMPACT REPORT

2024-2025

ADULT COUNSELLING

The Adult counselling service is a low cost, self-referral model, using a person-centred approach for adults experiencing mild to moderate difficulties, such as anxiety or depression. The process starts with the Counselling Team Leader, carrying out initial assessments to make sure that counselling with Dorset Mind will be helpful.

The model is a goal orientated model, identifying three goals of topics to work on in Counselling. The service is online to maximise reach across the county.

Delivered by qualified volunteer counsellors and placement counsellors, who are in their last year of training.

Both the qualified and placement team are well established and are committed to the work of Dorset Mind, providing on- line support in blocks of six sessions.

Participants can have up to 24 sessions, if in conjunction with the supervisor, further sessions are deemed to be beneficial to the client.

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DORSET MIND IMPACT REPORT

2024-2025

ADULT COUNSELLING FEEDBACK:

“I am very grateful for the sessions I had with my counsellor. She helped me realise that I was doing more than enough in a difficult situation. She never pressured me to discuss anything I wasn’t comfortable with. From the very beginning, she made me feel relaxed.”

Date

“This service has been invaluable to me, and I consider myself incredibly lucky to have had access to it. There is a mental health crisis and nowhere to turn, lack of adequate signposting from the NHS leads to those (currently) less able to help themselves to services with incredibly long wait times and had I not discovered Dorset Mind I would still be in that queue, deteriorating slowly or worse.”

Date

“Counselling was amazing we were able to work closely together over the sessions to progress through the

various events and situations occurring during that time and my counsellor’s reflections have enabled

me to question my own thinking patterns. I had started counselling due to a relationship breakdown (being the catalyst) but ended up traversing a range of paths that have helped me begin uncovering my identity and could not be more thankful for this opportunity.”

Date

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DORSET MIND IMPACT REPORT

2024-2025

THANK YOU’S

Special Thank You to the volunteers both qualified and on placement for their dedication and commitment to providing a counselling service with a 95.45% good or very good feed-back rating.

Working in a person-centred approach, with the support of in-house supervision and training, striving for excellence, to fulfil the needs of those receiving counselling.

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DORSET MIND IMPACT REPORT

2024-2025

INFORMATION SERVICES MAILBOX SIGNPOSTING

The Information Services Mailbox has been in operation for around 19 months. During this time, it has become an important point of contact for individuals and organisations reaching out to Dorset Mind for advice and guidance on supporting adults and young people with their mental health.

We regularly receive phone calls and emails from people seeking help, reassurance, or direction to the right kind of support.

This includes services such as Cruse Bereavement Care for those dealing with loss, or crisis support services like Samaritans and Shout for individuals in immediate distress.

Every enquiry is handled with care, empathy and professionalism. We recognise that many people contacting us may be reaching out for help for the first time, and we aim to make that experience as supportive and reassuring as possible.

Our team takes the time to explain the range of services Dorset Mind offers and, where appropriate, we also signpost to other trusted organisations that provide complementary support.

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DORSET MIND IMPACT REPORT

2024-2025

INFORMATION SERVICES MAILBOX SIGNPOSTING FEEDBACK

“Thank you for listening, it means a lot. I’ve spoken to others before, but no one has really taken the time to hear me.”

i “It was such a relief to feel understood. I didn’t ‘ feel judged, just supported.” .

“I really appreciate your time and the clear information you provided. The signposting helped me find the right support when I needed it most.”

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DORSET MIND IMPACT REPORT

2024-2025

MENTORING MINDS

Mentoring Minds offers 121 support, connection and encouragement from a trained volunteer for up to 6 months to any adult over the age of 18 years who is looking for support with their mental health recovery and wellbeing.

The Service supports the Dorset community as a goal-lead service based upon the ‘Five Ways to Wellbeing’ which is an evidencebased set of 5 steps proven to improve wellbeing. Connecting to other people, getting active, learning, taking notice, and giving back can all contribute to improving a participant’s mental wellbeing and confidence.

This can be achieved by setting smaller realistic goals with our participants. Over time, the increment of smaller steps will lead to a life-changing impact in some cases.

We aim to provide tools, tips and social skills to help individuals manage their mental health. Helping them recognise their wellbeing needs, put skills they have learnt into practice in their day-to-day life and building social skills to reconnect with the community.

Emma Roper at Shaftesbury Wellbeing event promoting Mentoring Minds service-May 24

DORSET MIND IMPACT REPORT

2024-2025

All service users rated the support available at the service ‘good’ or ‘very good.’ 39 87% of participants had an adults supported over 12 months improvement or maintained their level of wellbeing ~~a~~ MENTORING MINDS FEEDBACK: “My mentor was so patient and understanding. I could talk to her about what I was struggling with, and she would always help me reason it out.”

Participant

“Thanks to volunteer and Dorset Mind, I am back into my life, full of confidence and motivated to carry on my own”

Participant

“Weekly chats with Dorset mind- helped to take a different perspective, not to feel sorry for myself. I was stagnating and shutting myself away and I realised that was the worst thing I could do. It’s helped me “look up from the floor and see the world is a beautiful place”

Participant

A special ‘thank you’ to: ALL our volunteers that make the delivery of this service possible. You're all heroes!

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DORSET MIND IMPACT REPORT ZK 2024-2025 Re
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PEER SUPPORT

Dorset Mind Peer Support groups offer a continued safe space and social connection to those individuals that would benefit from longer term support. Peer support differs from other forms of mental health services and support in important ways. Crucially, the people involved play an active role in creating a safe environment for each other.

In this space, people can use their shared experiences to give and receive support from each other. Peers make choices about what parts of their personal experiences they talk about, seek support for, and use to support other people.

It is through the development of meaningful, two-way relationships that peer support works. People can feel less alone if they talk about their experiences and share coping strategies that work for them. By doing this, peers can help each other learn about how best to manage feelings and experiences that are difficult.

We currently have 2 active Peer support groups running and the need for future groups has been scoped and are in planning.

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DORSET MIND IMPACT REPORT

2024-2025

42

adults supported over 12 months

All of participants had an improvement or maintained their level of wellbeing All service users rated the support available at the service ‘good’ or ‘very good.’

ACTIVE IN MIND PEER SUPPORT SOCIAL GROUP

This social group offers a space where likeminded people can meet, socialise, play board games, pool, table tennis along with chatting over a cup of tea.

“These groups have been a lifeline for me. I am so grateful to everyone at Mind and the wonderful people I've met.”

“I enjoy people being around me who also have a mental health problem as it makes me feel that I am not standing out as someone with any problems.”

MINDFUL RAINBOWS LGBTQIA+ PEER SUPPORT GROUP

Social groups offer a space for like-minded people to meet, socialise, play games and connect with each other.

“A genuine lifeline at a very low ebb for me. Can't put into words how grateful I am for the leg up I received. THANK YOU”

“It’s always healthy to meet and talk about life, share ideas and experiences.”

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DORSET MIND IMPACT REPORT 2024-2025

IN MIND GROUPS

Dorset Mind’s community services focus on three different areas, ‘In Mind’ community groups focused on recovery-based education, therapeutic activities to develop positive mental wellbeing and reduce social isolation.

We also ensure our In Mind groups combat participant hardships and social isolation.

Our community groups are:

We run 7 ‘In Mind’ community groups based on 7 thematic areas, including eco therapy, men’s mental health, women’s mental health, physical and cognitive activity, perinatal mental health and support, and psychoeducation for people in the LGBTQIA+ community, and people who experience mild to moderate mental health problems.

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DORSET MIND IMPACT REPORT

2024-2025

Our In Mind groups have made a significant impact by supporting 161 adults and young people over the past financial year (April 24 to April 25). We achieved this by offering seven support groups, as well as programs, and workshops across Dorset.

We provided essential wellbeing, psychoeducational, and social support for individuals facing common mental health challenges, hardships, or social isolation.

Below is an overview of our In Mind groups:

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DORSET MIND IMPACT REPORT

2024-2025

# Eco in Mind – An ecotherapy service built on growing evidence that gardening supports both mental and physical health. At Poundbury’s Transition Town site, participants take part in activities such as seed planting, harvesting, garden maintenance, and creative projects like murals, nature art, and “positive pebbles.” They also grow herbs like rosemary and lavender, and make lemon balm tea from plants they’ve nurtured. The project helps people improve confidence, resilience, and self-esteem while connecting with others in green space. Dorset Mind also expanded the programme by partnering with schools and community groups in Dorchester.

# Wellbeing in Mind – A psychoeducationbased service that helps people understand stress, anxiety, and depression, identify symptoms early, and learn practical coping strategies. Delivered online, the drop-in sessions include workshops, guided relaxation, and peer support. Research shows psychoeducation is an important part of managing anxiety and depression, and participants report feeling better equipped to cope and more connected through shared learning.

These services show Dorset Mind’s dedication to supporting the community, meeting a broad range of mental health needs, and helping people from different backgrounds improve their wellbeing.

160 adults and young people supported over the last 12 months

1,552 total attendances over the last 12 months.

100% 94.97% of the participants recommended their of the participants improved their mood sessions. scores.

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DORSET MIND IMPACT REPORT

2024-2025

IN MIND GROUPS FEEDBACK:

ECO IN MIND

“Being out in the open air is good for my mental health and wellbeing and having someone to talk to about my problems, without judgement, is amazing.”

June 2025

MEN IN MIND

“This is such a great service and makes such a positive impact on my mental wellbeing every single week.”

June 2025

MOTHERS IN MIND

“Being part of this group has helped me feel supported and less alone. I’ve learnt practical ways to manage my mental health while caring for my baby, and connecting with other mums has made a real difference.”

June 2025

WOMEN IN MIND

“My facilitator was great. Each session was educational, informative, she held space for us to express our views and feelings and experiences,

she was empathetic and understanding and gave us tools and worksheets to help us track current areas of our mental health problems to work on. I left each session feeling very empowered it's a great group and I hope it continues”

May 2025

WELLBEING IN MIND

“The service as a whole has changed the way I live, see myself and want to going forward. The support from the group has had a large impact and continues to do so, always something to learn from another's experience or story from a safe space that allows reflection of the good and bad parts of life and the choices we make around them.”

June 2025

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OPERATIONS - CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE

DORSET MIND IMPACT REPORT

2024-2025

THE WAITING WELL PROJECT

The Waiting Well Project which commenced in April 2023, is partly funded by a local trust. The project aims to help young people maintain and improve their mental health and wellbeing and ensure they can access mental wellbeing support whilst they are waiting for statutory interventions such as CAMHS, and to help improve their school attendance.

Connected Minds is a fully funded eightweek early intervention programme for 10– 13-year-olds (Years 6-8) experiencing mild to moderate anxiety and emotional problems and low attendance at school. The programme is designed to support children and young people at risk of not attending school on a regular basis or with behavioural problems with associated low to moderate mental health concerns such as low mood, anxiety and stress, low self-esteem and anger issues.

This year has marked a significant turning point in the Waiting Well project. There are now 7 Connected Minds Programmes running across Dorset and BCP localities and we are now reaching areas of Dorset where there has been a significant lack of support for young people previously. A continuation grant from Mind has also successfully helped us deliver the programme.

Working with local primary, middle and secondary schools, family hubs and other community spaces has allowed us to use venues which are safe and inclusive and give the children a space to really express themselves, become more confident and learn to live more mentally healthy lives.

DORSET MIND IMPACT REPORT

2024-2025

95

95 19 programmes run across 7 Dorset Localities 71 93%

young people were supported through the programme

Individual sessions delivered

increased or maintained their wellbeing/mood after attending the sessions

88% 92% of young people rated the of young people would recommend programme good or very good the programme to their Peers

of young people would recommend the programme to their Peers

FEEDBACK – YOUNG PERSON

“When we learnt about anxiety. This whole programme has helped me so much. Now I know I'm not alone.”

“Communicating with other people. Meeting people that are like me.”

“Techniques and lying down for mindfulness because I rarely do it” December 2024

“Talking about feelings. Writing down emotion words” March 2025

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DORSET MIND IMPACT REPORT

2024-2025

FEEDBACK – PARENTS

“He has really enjoyed the sessions and is always positive after. We are pleased he has been given the opportunity and hope to continue to support him using the material covered.”

“I think it’s really positive and the Practitioners are great with the kids and really approachable. I also think the setting is brilliant and the couple in the coffee shop are wonderful. I loved the intro session but also love that the rest has been just for the children and confidential. It gives my son the opportunity to tell me what he’s learnt and therefore reflect.”

“A good variety of topics discussed. It's great that the programme varies according to the participant responses.”

June 2024

Special Thank you @ . Special thank you to our amazing funders MJB ‘ 5 Charitable Trust for making our work with young : A ae 2 people possible.

QUOTE FROM FUNDER

“I wanted to thank everyone for inviting me to the children’s group yesterday and making me feel welcome. It was lovely to see how much the children enjoyed the session and the positive impact these are having on them. I could tell how much the sessions mean to them, and it was lovely to watch them all interact.”

“Thank you for the amazing work you are doing, and I will share this with the other Trustees.”

May 2025

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DORSET MIND IMPACT REPORT

2024-2025

MENTORING MINDS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE

CYP Mentoring Minds offers young people aged 11-18yrs, who have already accessed our Active Monitoring program via their GP surgery the opportunity to work with a volunteer Mentor for a further six sessions, each up to 1 hour.

Only Active Monitoring Practitioners can refer to this service, and all referrals go via our Service Coordinator who will set the match with the mentor and monitor the relationship throughout.

Our Mentors are trained with knowledge of our Active Monitoring pathways, signposting and resources.

They are given background information about the young people they are working with and information on what they have been working on during previous sessions.

The role of a Mentor is to talk with and listen to the young person and understand what they have found most helpful from their Active Monitoring sessions. They will help them incorporate learnings into their everyday life. As the sessions are longer, they can talk about their week with the mentor focusing on times they may have struggled and the times that they have made positive decisions or done well. They can look at the skills/tools they have learnt and how using these could or has impacted their week.

Sessions are offered online via Microsoft Teams or Zoom.

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DORSET MIND IMPACT REPORT

2024-2025

8 32 young people were supported sessions delivered online 100% 97% of young people increased or rated the programme good or very maintained their mood/wellbeing good after the sessions 100% would recommend the service to their peers

CYP MENTORING FEEDBACK

FEEDBACK – PARENTS

“X has progressed and changed and it’s all because of this service. As a family I think we had hit rock bottom, I felt lost and unable to support X. X was frustrated as he didn’t understand his feelings or emotions. This service starting with Active Monitoring and then Mentoring has give X ways to manage himself, he’s able to take ownership of himself, he’s able to see his emotions and manage his anger. Don’t get me wrong, we still have challenges, but we are 100% on the right road. I worried for X growing up into a young adult, I worried how he would manage himself in situations. I don’t have those worries any more. He can achieve anything he wants. I will continue to be his biggest cheerleader!!”

August 2024

YOUNG PERSON FEEDBACK

“Helping me understand how to push through the bad times and to remember the good things coming my way”

“I absolutely loved receiving my phone calls with the volunteer, she was lovely for the time I had her and I found the Dorset mind service was very beneficial to me.”

March 2025

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DORSET MIND IMPACT REPORT

2024-2025

ACTIVE MONITORING FOR YOUNG PEOPLE IN PRIMARY CARE NETWORKS (PCNS)

CYP Active Monitoring is a structured mental health and wellbeing programme delivered by trained practitioners, within primary care networks or community settings.

It is designed to help young people, aged between 11 – 18, manage common mental health challenges such as:

The practitioner acts as a guide, not a therapist, helping the young person build resilience and coping strategies.

Purpose

The goal is to intervene early, before mental health issues escalate, and to empower young people with tools to manage their wellbeing independently. It also helps reduce pressure on specialist services like CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services).

How Does It Work?

Young people are referred to the service. They receive five short sessions with a practitioner who helps them explore their feelings and develop a personal wellbeing toolkit. The sessions use evidence-based self-help tools tailored to the young person’s needs.

We are currently working with three Primary Care Networks (PCNs). These include Bournemouth Central PCN, Weymouth and Portland PCN, and Poole North PCN. Our three Services Team Leaders are supporting 3 CYP Active Monitoring Practitioners who are now providing support across 12 GP surgeries.

We have received 485 referrals this year and delivered 914 sessions. There was a service delivery gap at the end of 2024 and the start of 2025; however, all practitioners are now in place.

80% of participants showed improvements in their Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) scores. Additionally, 59% of participants experienced an enhancement in their overall wellbeing scores as measured by the SWEMWBS.

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FEEDBACK

“It is easy to understand, and it is nice to be able to talk about it.”

“They completely understood me and were always open to listening to my worries and goals. I don't feel pressured to say or do anything I don't want to.”

“I like the 1:1 time where it is about me, and more focused on my feelings. Its personal.”

“Being able to talk through things to help me to rationalise my thinking.”

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914

INNOVATIVE SUPPORT TOOL CREATED BY OUR CYP ACTIVE MONITORING PRACTITIONER

Ellie-Mae, one of our CYP Active Monitoring Practitioners, has developed creative ‘business card’-style cheat cards to support young people accessing our CYP Active Monitoring service.

During her sessions, Ellie-Mae observed that while young participants found the strategies in our booklets extremely helpful, many struggled to remember what to do in everyday situations.

To bridge this gap, she designed these handy cards — small enough to fit in a phone case, wallet, or purse — so that young people can quickly access coping strategies and reminders wherever they are.

This simple but thoughtful idea has made our wellbeing tools even more practical and accessible, empowering young people to use their strategies with confidence in real-life moments.

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CYP COUNSELLING

The Children and Young People service provides Counselling to one academy in Bournemouth. The model is school based referral, in conjunction with parents. CYPs, meet face to face for an initial assessment to make sure that Counselling will be helpful for them, this will be followed by 5 sessions of counselling. Delivery is based on half terms. This works well for the young people and ensures that we can meet the needs of more CYP’s needing counselling support

KEY ACHIEVEMENTS Purbeck Youth Community Foundation

The PYCF project started in September 2024, providing counselling for 11- to 18year-olds at the Purbeck Youth Community Foundation. It is open to anyone living or going to school in the Purbeck area.

The project provides fully funded counselling for 30 children and young people a year, over five years. Referral can be self, parental, school, youth worker referral. The model is based on half terms. This works well for young people.

Feedback

‘”I’m able to manage my anxiety and anger, but I think the anxiety attacks have been something I have been trying to work through even before counselling. The anger has helped a lot to be under control because it’s helped, I can just count a few seconds and then move on without exploding.”

“I think we got on well and that helped me feel I could open up more because I felt understood or related or something. It made me laugh when I was distracted or trying not to talk about things and she would call me out on it but in a good way because I know I am naturally avoidant.”

“I can talk about anything in counselling and feel comfortable doing so. I also know I still don’t really like standing up for myself with certain things because I don’t want to ever hurt anyone's feelings even if they need to hear it. I know it's a problem but I am working on it.”

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We are so grateful for our wonderful volunteers that give their time and energy to help us reach and support local people. We have had a regular commitment from our volunteers, some have joined in the last year, some have been with us for many years.

Volunteers have supported us in many ways; helping facilitate various support groups, working on our Eco in Mind site, helping at events and working 1-2-1 with participants.

Our Learning Management System means we can offer over 4,000 free training courses to our volunteers alongside set training. This is combined employee and volunteer training where we are aligning the volunteer offer with our employees.

Volunteers and employees are now given the same opportunities to attend our Monthly All Hands meetings and away days. This has encouraged employees and volunteers from different departments to get to know each other.

In the last year volunteers have provided 7,492 hours of their time!

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Feedback THE WAITING WELL PROJECT

”I’m incredibly grateful for my time at Dorset Mind so far. Since joining in March 2024, the experience has been truly invaluable. Thanks to the skills and experience I’ve gained through the sessions at Dorset Mind; I’ve been offered a paid summer internship in children’s mental health.”

“I really appreciate the way you’ve supported and encouraged me during my time volunteering. You’ve always made it feel like a safe and open space to ask questions, reflect, and grow. I’ve felt genuinely valued and respected, and your calm, approachable style has made a big difference in building my confidence.”

Volunteer-Rowan Seymour collecting award at Volunteer Centre awards ceremony

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PLACEMENTS

We welcomed placement students from Bournemouth University, Monta and Usifo who gave their support to our marketing, IG and events team. Monta worked alongside us on a 30-week student placement and epically took part in both the Bournemouth Bay run and the Jurassic Ultra challenge.

Usifo experienced and supported a wide range of ‘hands-on' events and shared his digital and story writing expertise duties within the team. They made a real impact on our capacity to raise awareness and fundraise, and additionally on our colleagues and volunteers that worked with them.

We welcome placement counselling students from across Dorset to support our Counselling service. Extending our offer and reach and enabling us to offer low-cost counselling services.

The opportunities we can offer students are beneficial for both parties: we can provide learning and development opportunities as well as life and work experience, whilst they can build and enhance what we are able to offer local people needing our support. Usifo has since come on board as a member of paid staff. Welcome Usifo!

Usifo supporting colleague David at an event at Castle Point shopping centre.

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DORSET MIND AMBASSADORS

Our ambassadors help support our strategy by representing us online and in person at events and fundraising activities.

We encourage our team to share their lived experience online across their own social media and to contribute towards Dorset Mind content.

Importantly, they visibly lead by example – inspiring them to if they experience a dip in their own wellbeing, they document it to encourage people to reach out for support when needed.

Ambassador Lucy continues to write informative blogs for our website and monthly editorials for local magazines, using her experience gained as an Assistant Psychologist to provide a clinical narrative.

Chandy and Craig attended our Charity Ball in October speaking with the attendees giving them valuable insight into mental health and how it had impacted them.

Toby continues to use social media to promote Dorset Mind and encourage people to keep active.

Ty supported us with the promotion of our Charity ball using his business and lived experience.

Ty also supported us by joining the Bournemouth Bay run and by hosting a Men's Mental Health night with guest speakers.

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TBE NEES e > DORSET MIND IMPACT REPORT r) — a ® \ a 2024-2025

LEGACIES

IN MEMORY GIVING

A legacy donation (a gift left in a will) is one of the most meaningful ways someone can continue supporting mental health for generations to come.

These thoughtful gifts help ensure that our work carries on long into the future, offering hope, support, and life-changing services to local people who need us.

Legacies play a vital role in helping us continue delivering our core funded services.

These services are the backbone of our charity, and legacy donations help keep them accessible, reliable, and sustainable.

By choosing to leave a legacy to Dorset Mind, supporters help us reach more people struggling with their mental health—today, tomorrow, and for years to come. Every gift, no matter the size, becomes part of a lasting impact on the wellbeing of our community.

If you or someone you know would like to learn more about how to leave a legacy to Dorset Mind, we’d be happy to provide guidance with no obligation

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INCOME GENERATION

Income generation is essential to Dorset Mind’s ability to deliver meaningful impact across the county.

As an independent local charity, we do not receive guaranteed core funding. Instead, we rely on the support of our community and grants to sustain our services. Every pound raised enables us to provide prevention-focused mentalhealth support

Our Key Funding Streams

To ensure sustainability, Dorset Mind operates a diverse and balanced funding model. Our primary income streams include:

This blended approach ensures we can continue responding to emerging mental-health needs while expanding our reach and creating lasting positive change for local people.

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CORPORATE FUNDRAISING

The life-changing work of Dorset Mind’s Services Team would be seriously compromised without the incredible support we get year after year from our corporate partners.

Chatty Benches

In 2025, we embarked upon an exciting new venture, our Chatty Bench Project, which was made possible through a £5k donation from Dorset Tea.

The campaign brings together corporate sponsors, local artists, local councils, and our charity to create safe, welcoming spaces where people can pause, reflect, and connect.

Each highly coloured bench is more than a seat; it’s a vibrant work of public art designed to spark conversation and promote mental well-being across Dorset.

The inaugural Dorset Tea bench is located in a stunning location, overlooking Weymouth's gorgeous bay. Local artist Helena Chessher lovingly created it to reflect Dorset Tea’s brand and ethics.

We want to see these benches in every corner of the county. But we need support from Dorset’s business community to make this happen.

We’ll organise the artist, the bench, and the logistics, and obtain approvals from local councils. A one-year package is £5k and a two-year package is £10k.

This is a legacy project. We want these sites to provide comfort and sanctuary for people for years to come. For full details, please email: nick.rowe@dorsetmind.uk

Helena Chessher painting the Chatty Bench

DORSET MIND IMPACT REPORT

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Team Bournemouth and Poole College at the Jurassic Coast Challenge for Dorset Mind

Other ways to help

We are open to working with businesses in any appropriate way. We understand running your business is the top priority, so it’s important people support us in a sustainable way.

One great way to raise vital funds is to sign up for one of our big event challenges. It might be the Bournemouth Bay Run, the Jurassic Coast Challenge, the Dorset Plane Pull, a skydive, or the Dorset Mind Big Walk, but whatever you select, we guarantee you’ll have a great day out, raise vital funds and embrace an opportunity to team build or satisfy a lifelong ambition.

In recent years, two of our biggest supporters have been Hall & Woodhouse, who organised charity days, raffles, music events and brewery tours for us, and The Waterside Holiday Group, based at Bowleaze Cove in Weymouth, who did all their fundraising in-house last year.

The combined fundraising from these businesses over the last few years secured tens of thousands of pounds to support our work.

Other ways you can help are to offer gifts in kind for our prize draws or volunteer at one of our projects for the day.

But we also understand that all businesses are different, and if you work in the hospitality industry, our events might be difficult for you to attend.

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Sponsor a project

We are also keen to explore ways businesses or major donors might sponsor a specific piece of work, which might have particular resonance for them.

One anonymous benefactor donated a huge sum of money to launch our Waiting Well Project, which, through our Connected Minds Programme, provides an eight-week early intervention programme for 10-13 year-olds (Year 6-8) experiencing mild to moderate anxiety and emotional problems and low attendance at school.

Foray Motors, Strive 25 project in support of charities including Dorset Mind

FEEDBACK FROM THE WAITING WELL PROJECT

“We are immensely grateful for the support of our partners, irrespective of how they support us. We believe in the power of recovery, and this money is changing lives for the better daily.”

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BIDS AND GRANTS

During 2024–2025, Dorset Mind has made significant strides in diversifying its income through grant funding, despite an increasingly competitive landscape. We have submitted 33 funding applications across local, regional and national opportunities, with five confirmed successes, six declined, and nine currently in development. This sustained effort reflects our strategic commitment to expanding early intervention and community-based mental health services across Dorset.

Successful Bids

This year’s secured grants have supported core operations, youth services, peer support programmes, and innovation in service delivery. Highlights include continued funding for our Connected Minds and Active Monitoring for CYP, a new Menopause Pathway under Adult Active

Monitoring, and the strategic development of our Waiting Well initiative in partnership with NHS Dorset.

Strategic Funding Priorities

Our grant focus has remained tightly aligned to our strategic aims:

Improving Grant Practice

This year also saw improvements in our internal processes:

v for young people and underrepresented é communities. The coming year will focus on

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COMMUNITY FUNDRAISING AND EVENTS

HOW WE RAISED OUR FUNDS

In another demanding year, Dorset Mind’s supporters and partners united to raise an incredible £1,118,018— funds that are vital for delivering essential mental health support across Dorset.

Here is a list of all community events in the last year:

Team Durable at the Bournemouth Bay Run

A Bad Abarth South Coast Event

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MARKETING AND DIGITAL CONTENT

Raising mental health awareness, highlighting and thanking our fundraises and using videos to tell our stories features strongly in our strategy. We used key dates and anniversaries throughout the year to help encourage people to start a conversation about their mental health and live mentally healthy lives.

We re-examined and concentrated our voice on social media by reducing the number of pages we currently use, got off X and included Bluesky as a social media platform. We also started working with Dorset Coast Radio to improve community engagement with regular radio slots for events and services.

----- Start of picture text -----
The Waiting Well Project Video
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Social media has also become an instrumental platform to promote new services like our Mothers in Mind and Access Wellbeing services in Dorset.

press releases 6

news mentions 10

social media channels 4

Followers 20,861

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Website

This year Dorset Mind strengthened the accessibility and performance of its website, guided by updated WCAG standards from National Mind and detailed assessments provided through Silktide. This work helped embed accessibility into the full user journey rather than treat it as an add-on.

Improvements included clearer colour

contrast, faster load speeds and updates to page structure to support people searching for information or services. Forms were also

The most visited pages included the job opportunities page, contact page, volunteering, urgent help, and key adult services, particularly counselling. These areas also had some of the highest engagement times, showing that people were finding the information they needed and interacting with it meaningfully. The website continued to support major campaigns by hosting signposting content, event information, signup forms and blog posts that helped drive awareness and engagement.

reviewed so referrals, volunteer enquiries and event bookings reach the correct teams without delay.

154,000 Website pageviews

1,400 Newsletter Subscribers

74,000 Website active users

50%

Newsletter open rate

CRM

Beacon remained central to how the charity manages supporter and participant relationships. This year’s focus was on reducing the reliance on third-party tools so more ticketed events could be handled directly through the CRM. Bringing bookings, donations and fundraising data into one place meant supporter information was kept secure while also cutting back the amount of manual admin required from staff. These efficiencies freed up time to deliver more activity across fundraising and events, while improvements to segmentation and data quality helped teams plan, evaluate and communicate more effectively.

Digital Strategy

Work this year centred on strengthening digital foundations, improving access to services, and developing systems that support consistent data handling and better insights. The strategy remains responsive to local and national priorities and continues to guide how the charity uses technology to support its long-term aims.

Email Marketing

Email continued to be an important part of how the charity engages supporters and shares updates. Dorset Mind streamlined its previous range of separate mailouts into one monthly newsletter that highlights upcoming events, service updates, blogs and supporter thank you’s.

Dorset Mind continued to make progress against its three-year digital strategy.

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~~__~~ Blogs —

Our blog space tells real stories from people in our communities. We welcome content about any topic that relates to mental health and contains lived experience. This helps readers know that other people may have been through similar situations, and importantly, that they are not alone.

Other publications

Throughout the year, we

continuously published, real stories and wellbeing articles on the Pier Journal, Shareborne Times and the Blackmorvale magazine, with call to action about our services.

These publications create engagement and serves as a good marketing tool to signpost our services to a large audience base.

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Our Trustees played a pivotal role in maintaining oversight of the charity’s income and expenditure, with monthly financial reports reviewed by the Risk, Finance, and Quality Sub-Committee.

This approach allowed Trustees to closely track cash flow, ensure expenses aligned with the charity’s mission, and assess progress against the Income Generation Strategy, which set ambitious targets for major revenue streams.

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|||| |---|---|---| |Year|Income|Expenditure| |2022/23|1,366,140|1,286,013| |2023/24|966,894|1,365,028| |2024/25|1,128,643|954,978|

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Total Income £1,128,643

Charitable activities Administrative wages £817,234 £122,674 £15,070

Administrative wages

Cost of raising funds, managing investments and costs incurred in trading activities

Total expenditure £954,978

£15,070 (1.6%) Raising funds

£122,674 (12.8%) Administrative wages

£817,234 (85.6%) Charitable activities

Total unrestricted reserves Total restricted reserves Reserves policy £135,152 £158,180

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HOW WE SPENT OUR MONEY

In 2024/25 we spent £954,978 on our work to make sure that people in Dorset with a mental health problem get support and respect.

Of this, £939,908 was spent on charitable activities – that is, the costs of our staff and other costs incurred by Dorset Mind in the delivery of activities and services for our beneficiaries.

The cost of raising funds, managing investments and costs incurred in trading activities was £15,070.

Risk

Risk management was overseen by the Risk, Finance and Quality Sub-Committee, which met regularly to review and update the detailed Risk Register. The ongoing cost-ofliving crisis continues to impact the charity, and trustees actively explore cost-saving measures to ensure value for money for donors while maintaining high-quality services for beneficiaries. This year also brought changes to national insurance, which were incorporated into budgets promptly following announcements. Reserves were allocated in line with the charity’s risk profile and adjusted as necessary after subcommittee reviews.

The trustees continue to closely scrutinize the charity’s expenditure on a monthly basis, ensuring careful oversite and accountability.

How are your donations spent?

Included within charitable activities is £122,674 allocated to administrative wages, meaning that of our total expenditure this year of £954,978, direct charitable costs totalled £817,234. This means that for every £1 donated, 86p goes directly to projects, services, or staff who deliver vital mental health support across Dorset.

Governance

These measures ensure that our Board of Trustees are able to oversee our Strategy, that our Strategy is fit for purpose, that we have all the right policies, procedures, checks and balances to ensure we operate legally, safely and manage our risks and finances in the best way possible.

Reserves Policy

The Board of Trustees examined the Charity’s requirements for reserves in light of the main risks to the organisation. It established a policy whereby the unrestricted funds not committed or invested in tangible fixed assets held by the Charity should be equal to the amount required to address the red flags as determined by the Risk, Finance and Quality Sub-Committee - which was £268,000 at the year-end.

Unrestricted reserves are held for the following purposes:

At the year end the charity held total unrestricted reserves (excluding designated funds) of £135,152 (2023/24: £69,429) and restricted reserves of £158,180 (2023/24: £50,238). The charity succeeded in building its unrestricted reserves back to this target after a tough financial year in 2023/24.

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CENTRAL OPERATIONS

Spring 2024 was a challenging period Dorset Mind, as we navigated ongoing economic pressures. These circumstances required careful decision-making to safeguard the charity’s long-term sustainability and ensure we could continue delivering life-changing mental health support across Dorset.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to our exceptional workforce, whose resilience and dedication ensured the continued provision of high-quality services during a year of considerable change.

Dorset Mind in house Autism Awareness Training

Despite these challenges, our journey reinforced our commitment to sustainability, innovation, and growth. As we entered 2025, we were proud to expand our services and strengthen the impact we bring to our communities.

This year, we were awarded a contract with 4 other voluntary sector partners across Dorset to lead on the transformation offer for mental health and we are leading this support offer across North Dorset as part of Access Wellbeing.

Central Operations Summary

Employees: 44

Fire Wardens: 2

We also broadened our group support by launching Mothers in Mind—an important collaboration with DorPIP and National Mind. This initiative allows us to reach more new mothers across the county, supporting their wellbeing as they begin their journey into parenthood.

First Aiders: 6

Complaints Received: 1

Health & Safety Incidents: 1

Internally, we continue to strengthen our core team to ensure stability, confidence, and readiness for the future. A key focus going forward is investing in wellbeing and cultivating a positive, supportive culture for our staff and volunteers.

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THANK YOU'STHANK YOU'S

In a landscape shaped by rising demand and financial pressure, it is the passion, resilience, and belief of our community that has enabled Dorset Mind to create meaningful, measurable change and this report demonstrates the power of collective commitment to mental wellbeing across Dorset.

To our staff: thank you for your compassion, professionalism, and determination to be there for every person who needs us. To our volunteers: your generosity of time and spirit is felt in every conversation, group and connection you help create. To our trustees: your leadership and guidance help us navigate complexity with clarity and purpose.

To the people at the heart of our work — our participants: thank you for your trust and courage. Your stories drive our ambition and shape our services. And importantly, to our funders, partners, commissioners and supporters: thank you for standing with us. Your belief in our mission, your investment in our work, and your willingness to collaborate have made it possible to reach more people, innovate in our delivery, and respond where the need is greatest.

Every number in this report represents a person — someone who felt heard, supported, more hopeful. Our collective impact is not theoretical; it’s happening every day in homes, schools, workplaces, and communities across Dorset. We are making a real difference — because of all of you.

Linda O’Sullivan

CEO

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OUR PEOPLE

Board of Trustees:

Charles Alberts (Co-Chair) MSc, CMgr, MCMI, CertCII Dr Laurence Mynors-Wallis (Co-Chair) MA, DM, MRCP, FRCPsych Maria Evans (resigned 15 May 2025) Dr Rosalind Maycock BM Calvin Billingon-Glen (resigned 15 May 2025) Samuel Crompton (appointed 22 May 2024) Jonathan Wootten (appointed 22 May 2024) Elaine Hurll (appointed 22 May 2024 and resigned 15 May 2025) Karen Butcher (appointed 22 May 2024) Treasurer: Ben Lawes ACCA

CEO: Linda O’Sullivan

Patron:

Dr Andrew Mayers – Principal Academic, Bournemouth University

Ambassadors:

Chandy Green Chris Tshuma Craig Eldridge Lucy Lewis Megan Whitehead Natalie Merry Toby Kenneally Ty Temel

Professional Advisors:

Human Relations: Peninsula Business

Health and Safety: Sirius Business Services Ltd B & G Fire Alarms Management Accounts: Leigh Wiltshire, Ekeshire IT Management: Comms UK Ltd Insurers: Arthur J Gallagher Insurance Independent Examiners: Edwards and Keeping Limited Bankers: CAF Bank Ltd, 25 Kings Hill Avenue, West Malling ME19 4TA

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We are Dorset Mind. We won’t give up until everyone experiencing a mental health problem in Dorset gets support and respect.

To donate to our work and help us support local people in Dorset, visit: https://dorsetmind.uk/donate

Dorset Mind Head Office (not open to the public):

8 Stratfield Saye, 20-22 Wellington Road Bournemouth. Dorset. BH8 8JN.

Facebook: @DorsetMindOfficial ~~~~ Instagram: @dorsetmind ~~__~~ LinkedIn: Dorset Mind ~~~~ BlueSky: @dorsetmind ~~~~ YouTube: @DorsetMind ~~~~

Dorset Mind is a registered charity No. 1108168 and is registered in England as a company limited by guarantee No. 5333018. DM437