Trustees’ Report and Accounts
for the period from 1[st] April 2022 to 31[st] March 2023
for
Gaming the Mind Registered charity no. 1186983
Date of approval: 18[th] January 2024
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Report of the Trustees
for the Year Ended 31[st] March 2023
1. OBJECTIVES, ACTIVITIES AND PERFORMANCE
Objectives and activities
Gaming the Mind’s purpose is the promotion of mental health among people who play video games or work in the video game industry.
During this financial year, we have provided input to a number of public events and conferences aimed at people who play video games and/or work in the games industry. We have provided a range of inputs including staffing quiet spaces and booths, promoting mental health awareness, providing original written resources on mental health, signposting to other sources of support and engaging in psychoeducation to increase awareness of mental illness and decrease stigma.
In terms of other mental health promotion activities, Gaming the Mind has continued to work with game developers and video game design students to advise on game content with the aim of furthering the charity’s aims, held journal clubs for mental health professionals and students, produced resources on mental health and gaming and engaged via media outlets to promote psychoeducation and mental wellbeing in the video games community. These activities were undertaken alongside Gaming the Mind regularly creating and disseminating targeted and relevant content via social media, podcasts and its website to raise mental health awareness, decrease stigmatisation and increase support for the video games community.
Achievements and performance
The charity has received positive verbal and written feedback from event attendees and consumers of the charity’s outputs, and has continued to grow its presence within the video games community and amongst professionals as a resource for those interested in mental wellbeing and/or wishing to learn about mental illness.
Explanation of finances, income and expenditure
The charity has a current account and has continued to operate charity accounts with Amazon Smile, Paypal and Tiltify in order to facilitate and maximise fundraising via these commercial entities according to their written terms and conditions.
During the relevant financial period the charity received various donations as well as monies received from commercial partners in connection with Gaming the Mind engaging in charitable activities. Expenditure during the period was for costs associated with these activities as well as general running costs of the charity (e.g. website costs, printing costs and relevant insurance).
Public benefit
By carrying out our activities pursuant to our objectives the trustees consider that they have complied with the Charity Commission’s public benefit guidance when exercising any powers and duties to which the guidance is relevant.
Trustees
The five trustees in place at the end of the previous financial year (2021/2022) continued their roles into the next financial year. Dr Sachin Shah stepped down as trustee on 21[st] February 2023 and was
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thanked for his work as trustee since the charity was founded; Dr Shah will now focus on his key operational role in the charity. Two new trustees, Dr Atheeshaan Arumuham and Dr Marcus Tan, were appointed by the trustees on 23[rd] February 2023 and are welcomed in providing additional relevant skills and experience to the running of the charity.
Fundraising and future plans
As in the previous year, to date Gaming the Mind’s fundraising has primarily been via collaborations with relevant organisations, however direct fundraising from the public has continued to grow year on year. As the charity’s profile continues to grow the trustees continues to review sources of fundraising and new opportunities.
Future plans for funds raised include:
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Creating further original materials and resources aimed at those who make and play video games in order to promote education and awareness of mental illness and mental wellbeing;
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Providing equipment to facilitate therapeutic gaming experiences to improve the mental health of those experiencing physical and/or mental ill-health;
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Ultimately employing a person to manage day-to-day charity matters including engaging with the public and industry.
Training
All volunteers involved in the charity’s events and projects are provided with training relevant to their specific role and are supervised by one or more of the trustees. The trustees reassess the training and support needs of volunteers on an ongoing basis, taking into account feedback from volunteers and other stakeholders.
2. FINANCIAL REVIEW
The charity had a cash surplus for the year of £9,953. At the end of the financial period this is added to the surplus brought forward giving a figure to carry forward of £10,784 which is available for use to achieve the charity’s objectives. There are no issues with the charity’s ability to continue as a going concern.
No major events have occurred since the end of the reporting period.
3. STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT
Gaming the Mind is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) and its governing document is its constitution dated 28[th] November 2019. At the beginning of the financial year there were five trustees of Gaming the Mind, with one trustee stepping down from their role in February 2023. The remaining four trustees had been in position since the charity was founded on 17[th] December 2019, and continued to act throughout this financial year. During the financial year, two new trustees were appointed by the board (as described above) leaving a total of six trustees in place as at 31[st] March 2023.
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4. REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS
Registered charity name/number (England & Wales):
Gaming the Mind 1186983
Principal office:
Institute of Psychiatry PO63 16 DE CRESPIGNY PARK LONDON SE5 8AF
Trustees (as at 31[st] March 2023):
Dr Atheeshaan Arumuham Dr Frances Debell Dr Stephen Kaar Dr Hamilton Morrin Dr Donald Servant Dr Marcus Tan
(Dr Sachin Shah stepped down as trustee on 21[st] February 2023.)
No trustees have ever held title to property belonging to the charity.
This report has been prepared in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice (FRS 102).
Approved by the board of trustees on 18[th] January 2024 and signed on its behalf by:
Dr Frances Debell – Trustee
Dated: 18[th] January 2024
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Accounts for the Year Ended 31" March 2023 CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGIAND AND WAIES nSng thè Mlnd 118$9B3 Receipts and payments accounts CC16a Forthe perlod from Section A Receipts and payments 4Jnrestrieted lunds toth• n•ar•st Restricted fund5 Endowment fund5 Total funds tothp Al Recei Donatsonsl rants 2Y2 292 95 Othèr Sub lo18llGross income for ARI A2 Assetand Investment $ale$, see table. Sub tot81 Total receipts 11.801 1.094 A3P ments 579 Stsb total S7# A4 A$$et and Investment urchases, see table Sub total Total payrnent5 579 Net of receipts/{payments) A5 Transtsrs betwtÈn fund$ A6 Cash funds last yearend Cash lunds this year end 515 831 831 316 B31
Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period Unrestrlttèd funds to n•arns1£ Restdcted Endowment fuTrd5 to n•4r•ste Cdl¥gvl to near•$te B1 Cash funds Not W951 Bank Currfntthcount 1U.784 Total ¢ash funds 10,784 (agree retelptsand Unrestricted lunds to neoreg1£ Restricted lunds tonrest£ Enoent funds to neare9t£ Detall$ B2 Oih8r mon8tsry assets Fundb>vthkh 49SEtbelon * ctI0p0n4I Current¥alu& 01 Detall$ 83 Investment assets Fundto whKh ossetbelon CO•tlopOon) Curr•nt¥alu• OMI De11$ B4 Assets retained for the chaiity's own use Fundtothkh tdte* Amountdue ndua Detalls BS Liabilitios SignEd by or iwo tru5t885 un btha of ¥1 Iru51995 Signature Print Name Data of roval Dr Fr8nce5 De1 1&0112tr24