## **ANNUAL REPORT 2025**
**Registered charity number: 1184442** www.thementalhealthcommunity.co.uk hello@thementalhealthcommunity.co.uk
## **Table Of Content**
## 1. **About us**
## 2. **Meet our team**
## 3. **Vision, mission, values**
## 4. **Activities**
## 5. **Impact summary**
## 6. **Financial review**
## 7. **Governance**
## 8. **Trustee tenure**
## 9. **Declaration**
## **About us**
We are The Mental Health Community (reg. 1184442), presenting our annual report covering reporting period 1 November 2024 - 31 October 2025.
As enshrined in our governing document, our charitable purposes are:
For the public benefit, the relief of those in need by reason of mental health, by promoting mental health inclusion at work and providing information and guidance to workplaces.
Everything we do is from a foundation of lived experience of mental ill-health.
We know that it can be difficult to get, or keep a job if your energy levels, how you’re feeling and your ability to go to a place of work every day are affected by a mental health condition like anxiety or depression.
But we also know that having a sense of purpose and belonging can really help with the symptoms and impact that mental health conditions can have on you.
Our work is focused on helping people with a mental health condition who are in work or looking for work.
We do this by supporting businesses to improve how they look after people, because we know that by creating inclusive and safe spaces at work we make it possible for people with mental ill health to stay in the workplace which helps keep them well and benefits the businesses too.
This year we have been supported by Plymouth University to host a micro-internship for one of their students. Samantha made a fantastic impact for us through social media development and asset creation. Thank you Samantha and Plymouth University!
## **Meet our team**
**Hannah Sturland** Founder | Chair Appointed at incorporation
## **New trustees 2025**
**Simon Bedford-Smith Michael Ramone Nadia Mahmud**
**Paul Smith** Founding trustee Stepped down this year
Terms: Simon and Michael: June 2025 - June 2028 Nadia: April 2026 - April 2029.
**Dermot Parkinson** Treasurer Appointed at incorporation
**Sheon Sturland** Founding trustee Appointed at incorporation
**Fiona Cole** Trustee Term: September 2024 - September 2027
## **Vision**
We believe in thriving and mental health inclusive workplaces for everyone.
## **Mission**
Driving understanding and support for mental health within the workplace from a foundation of lived experience.
## **Values**
We are Authentic: we bring our whole selves to the mission, learn from people’s real stories and are true to our vision.
We are Community: we are stronger together, we collaborate to find the right solutions and we support each other.
We are Challenge: we can do, say and deliver hard things.
## **Theory of change**
## **Impact summary**
This year we have delivered a total of **221 hours** of support were delivered with all elements of the programme receiving positive feedback, with participants rating it **4.4 / 5** and **100%** saying they would recommend it to others.
We evaluate the impact of the programme through:
- 1.Start and end point surveys which participating organisations are asked to share with all staff for completion.
- 2.Surveys following each intervention: workshops, shared learning, consultancy sessions.
The impact data suggests we are achieving the outcomes set out in our Theory of Change:
## **Better quality conversations about mental health:**
- 81% felt that quality conversations about mental health at work had got ‘better’ or ‘much better’.
- 67% said, “I have more tools to help me create a safe, supportive culture for people with a mental health condition.”
- 67% said, “I feel more confident in supporting colleagues with a mental health condition.”
## **People with a mental health condition are better able to advocate for their needs:**
- 69% felt that people with a mental health condition in their organisation were ‘better’ or ‘much better’ able to advocate for their needs at work.
- 63% felt there was ‘better’ or ‘much better’ access to reasonable adjustments for everyone.
- I feel safe to ask for the support I need for my mental health improved 28%: from 60% to 88%.
## **Participating organisations are a safe place to work for people with a mental health condition:**
- 63% felt their organisation was ‘better’ or ‘much better’ as a safe place to work for people with a mental health condition.
- I feel safe and confident to be open about my mental health at work improved 45%: from 49% to 94%.
- I feel supported by the organisation to stay well at work improved 24%: from 57% to 81% I receive appropriate support in a timely way improved 25%: from 50% to 75%.
- I am able to take the time off I need to support my mental health improved 32%: from 43% to 75%.
## **Activities**
This year we have focused on making progress towards our strategic objectives:
## **Objective 1: To successfully deliver the Community Headspace programme – with a mix of new and returning clients.**
This year saw us deliver the Community Headspace programme to our second cohort of organisations:
- Delivered between January 2025 and October 2025, with a 3 month recruitment window (Oct-Jan).
- With 13 new organisations and 3 returning from cohort 1.
- Each organisation had a minimum of 3 participants with 56 individuals taking part. 9 new organisations and 2 from cohort 1 completed the program, earning or retaining Mental Health Inclusive Workplace status.
## **Objective 2: To create a commercially sustainable model.**
We have used face-to-face strategy days to identify opportunities for additional products and services that can provide income to reduce the reliance on grant funding. We explored these opportunities and have started work to develop the first two indicated as priorities by our effort/income matrix ready to launch in early 2026.
## **Objective 3: To review and develop the charity’s governance and resource model.**
We conducted a review of our trustee board and identified the skills and demographics currently missing. We developed a more inclusive trustee role description and advert which we used via a Charity Job recruitment to meet and induct 3 new trustees.
We reviewed and updated all of our policies, improved governance around information management through use of Google Workspace and organisation email accounts for each trustee and implemented an improved trustee report to support each meeting with Read AI to capture a summary of the conversations.
## **Financial review**
This year we have been funded through a £20,000 grant from The National Lottery and donations. The challenges with securing ongoing grant funding are a significant risk to the organisation and with 10 unsuccessful funding bids this year it highlights the importance of launching the new income-generating ideas.
We currently hold no reserves due to the lack of success in securing ongoing funding.
**Review of the charity’s financial position at the end of the period**
Starting balance: £20,275 Money in: £855 Money out: £20,087 End of year balance: £1,043
## **Governance**
The Mental Health Community is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) and is governed by a Foundation Model Constitution.
Trustees are recruited using an inclusive, anonymous process via Charity Job. When trustee recruitment is required, every trustee will be appointed for a period of three years by a resolution passed at a properly convened meeting of the existing trustees. Regard will be given to the skills, knowledge and experience required for effective administration of the organisation when appointing new trustees.
At the end of this reporting year there are six trustees in post. One of the founding trustees has stepped down, two new trustees joined the board and another was recruited and will start officially in early 2026.
We improved the induction process for new trustees, which now includes a handbook with key information about the organisation, how we work together and social media guidance.
Policies and procedures are in place and were reviewed this year. The review cycle is every two years or sooner if required.
Operations are overseen by the Chair of trustees, with day-to-day delivery held by the operational team of freelance professionals:
## **Forward Plan**
We have designed a forward plan for the next 3 years which aims to move us away from a reliance on grant funding to a more sustainable approach by growing our traded income.
## **We aim to:**
- 1.Continue development and delivery of grant-funded workshops through 2026.
- 2.Have our core trading offer which includes a series of workshops, additional support and toolkits ready for sale by the end of Q1 2027.
- 3.Increased traded income year-on-year.
- 4.Secure longer-term funding for annual cohorts of our Community Headspace programme.
- 5.Develop, test and deliver 2 new traded income streams in 2027.
6. Develop, test and deliver at least 1new traded income stream in 2028.
## **Declaration**
The Mental Health Community has taken advantage of the small companies’ exemption in preparing the report above.
The trustees declare that they have had due regard to the guidance issued by Charity Commission on public benefit and have approved this annual trustees report.
Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees
||**Charity Name**
**The Mental Health Community**
|**Charity Name**
**The Mental Health Community**
|**Charity Name**
**The Mental Health Community**
|**No (if any)**
**1184442**|
|---|---|---|---|---|
||**For the period**
**from**|Period start date
11/1/2024|**To**|Period end date
10/31/2025|
|**Section A Receipts and payments**|||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|**A1 Receipts**
Balance at beginningof Year
**20,275**
Sturland
**755**
The Self Space Limited
**100**
Lottery grant
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**21,130**
**-**
**-**
**_Sub total_ -**
**_Total receipts_ 21,130**
**A3 Payments**
Admin - Bex
**1,473**
PolicyBee
**141**
Zoom
**78**
Choloe PM
**4,707**
Jess Facilitator
**9,119**
Emily- Recruitment
**4,530**
Sundries(balance figure
**39**
Web site management
**-**
**-**
**_Sub total_ 20,087**
**-**
**-**
**_Sub total_ -**
**_Total payments_ 20,087**
**_Net of receipts/(payments)_ 1,043**
**A5 Transfers between funds**
**-**
**A6 Cash funds last year end**
**-**
**_Cash funds this year end_ 1,043**
**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**to the nearest £**
**_Sub total_**_(Gross income for AR)_
**A2 Asset and investment sales,**
**(see table).**
**A4 Asset and investment**
**purchases, (see table)**|**to the nearest £**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**Restricted**
**funds**|**to the nearest £**
**Endowment**
**funds**|**Total funds**
**to the nearest £**
**20,275**
**755**
**100**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**21,130**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**21,130**
**1,473**
**141**
**78**
**4,707**
**9,119**
**4,530**
**39**
**-**
**-**
**20,087**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**20,087**
**1,043**
**-**
**-**
**1,043**|**Last year**
**to the nearest £**|
|||**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**|**20,275**|**8,607**|
||||**755**|**-**|
||||**100**|**-**|
||||**-**|**20,000**|
||||**-**|**-**|
||||**-**|**-**|
||||**-**|**-**|
||||**-**|**-**|
||||**21,130**|**28,607**|
||||||
|||**-**
**-**
**-**|**-**||
||||**-**|**-**|
||||**-**|**-**|
||||||
|||**-**|**21,130**|**28,607**|
||||||
|||**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**|**1,473**|**187**|
||||**141**|**259**|
||||**78**|**70**|
||||**4,707**|**1,622**|
||||**9,119**|**5,696**|
||||**4,530**|**250**|
||||**39**|**91**|
||||**-**|**157**|
||||**-**|**-**|
||||**20,087**|**8,332**|
||||||
|||**-**
**-**
**-**|**-**||
||||**-**||
||||**-**|**-**|
||||||
|||**-**|**20,087**|**8,332**|
||||||
||**-**|**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**|**1,043**|**20,275**|
||**-**||**-**|**-**|
||**-**||**-**|**-**|
||**-**||**1,043**|**20,275**|
## **Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period**
|**Categories**
**B1 Cash funds**
**B2 Other monetary assets**
**B3 Investment assets**
**B5 Liabilities**
**B4 Assets retained for the**
**charity’s own use**
Signed by one or two trustees on
behalf of all the trustees|**Details**
Bank Account
**Details**
**Details**
**Details**
**Details**
Signature
#VALUE!
**_Total cash funds_**
(agree balances with receipts and payments
account(s))|**to nearest £**
**to nearest £**
**1,043**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**1,043**
**-**
OK
OK
**to nearest £**
**to nearest £**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**Cost (optional)**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**Cost (optional)**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
Print Name
Hannah Sturland
Dermot Parkinson
**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**Restricted**
**funds**
**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**Restricted**
**funds**
**Fund to which**
**asset belongs**
**Fund to which**
**asset belongs**
**Fund to which**
**liability relates**
**Amount due**
**(optional)**|**to nearest £**
**Endowment**
**funds**|
|---|---|---|---|
||||**-**|
||||**-**|
||||**-**|
||||**-**|
||||OK|
||||**to nearest £**
**Endowment**
**funds**|
||||**-**|
||||**-**|
||||**-**|
||||**-**|
||||**-**|
||||**-**|
||||**Current value**
**(optional)**|
||||**-**|
||||**-**|
||||**-**|
||||**-**|
||||**-**|
||||**Current value**
**(optional)**|
||||**-**|
||||**-**|
||||**-**|
||||**-**|
||||**-**|
||||**-**|
||||**-**|
||||**-**|
||||**-**|
||||**When due**
**(optional)**|
|||||
|||||
|||||
|||||
|||||
|||||
||||Date of
approval|
|||Hannah Sturland|4/15/2026|
||#VALUE!|Dermot Parkinson|4/15/2026|