Mind Yourself! and Foyle Advocates.
Annual Report
This is the Trustee’s Annual Report for Mind Yourself! and Foyle Advocates as required by the Charity Commission NI.
This relates to the financial year 1st April 2022 to 31st March 2023.
Mind Yourself! and Foyle Advocates Annual Report
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Contents
Page
Introduction………………………………………………………………………….....1
Mind Yourself! Leaflet ………………………………………………………………...2
Legalities / Constitution and Purpose……………………………………………….3
Trustees / Trustee Appointments…………………………………………………….4
About Mind Yourself! / Volunteers……….……………………………………….....5
Main Activities to further Public Benefit……………………………………………...6
Mind Yourself! and hygiene requirements………………………………………….7
Foyle Advocates Leaflet……………………………………………………………....8
Peer Advocacy Training……………………………………………………………….9
Course Timetable……….……………………………………………………………...10
A typical day in the office / Empowerment of client…………………………………11
Review of Financial Position at the end of year…………………………………….12-13
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Mind Yourself! and Foyle Advocates
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## **INTRODUCTION**
Mind Yourself! is a unique organisation in Northern Ireland, set up by service users to provide support and advocacy with empathy and understanding to anyone experiencing mental health difficulties, regardless of ethnicity, sexual orientation or religious affiliation.
This document has been prepared by the Trustees based on the guidance provided by the Charity Commission and having regard for the Commission’s Public Benefit requirement statutory guidance.
Signed on behalf of the Trustees
_____________________________
Claire Jasinska Chairperson
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## **LEGALITIES**
Mind Yourself! (also known as Mind Yourself! and Foyle Advocates) is registered with the Charity Commission NI under the number NIC103800 and is located at:
26-28 Bishop Street, Derry/Londonderry BT48 6PP
Mind Yourself! office is open from 12 noon to 4 pm, Monday to Friday. No appointment necessary
## **CONSTITUTION AND PURPOSE**
Article 4 of Mind Yourself! Constitution:
- 4.1.1 The organisation is established for the advancement and education and the relief of those suffering from the effects of mental illness in Northern Ireland (the area of benefit) by means of:
- a) acting as an organisation for users of mental health services to enable them to share their voice and their views, experiences and ideas, in relation to mental health issues;
- b) fostering mutual support among people suffering from the effects of mental illness;
- c) promoting understanding of mental illness and discouraging prejudice against those who experienced or are experiencing any form of mental illness;
- d) advancing education, for the benefit of the general public, about the needs, experiences, (and human rights entitlements) of people suffering the effects of mental illness.
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## **TRUSTEES**
Claire Jasinska.............................................Chairperson. Barry McElhinney.........................................Treasurer. Carmel McElhinney.......................................Secretary Martha McClelland.........................................President and Committee Member Daniel Farren.................................................Committee Member
## **TRUSTEE APPOINTMENTS**
Trustees are appointed by ballot at the Annual General Meeting (AGM). Those who are interested in the position of Trustee put their name forward to be considered. Every volunteer has a vote and those who have served with Mind Yourself! for six months or more have the opportunity to be voted in as a member of the Management Committee. Office bearers are selected by proposal and seconded by another member of the Management Committee.
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## **ABOUT MIND YOURSELF! and FOYLE ADVOCATES**
Mind Yourself! and Foyle Advocates Is a mental health charity, set up 25 years ago by a small group of people with mental health difficulties (service users). At the time, they felt their experiences of the mental health services was largely negative and this had a relatively negative impact on their mental health. Therefore, they decided to set up a support group for themselves to support each other. Later, funding from North Western Trust provided for a small premises which they were able to open to the general public to provide a listening ear, information and sign-posting service and any other help that could be given.
The following year a “Peer Advocacy in Mental Health” course was developed, which was assigned 12 credits by the Open College Network (OCN). From this “Foyle Advocates” was developed to provide a voice for those who find it difficult to speak up for themselves. This can be at Tribunals, the Psychiatrist, their G.P.s’, Social Security assessments or any other situation where a client would feel vulnerable.
The course is facilitated by two qualified peer advocate tutors. The maximum number of participants is six.
## **VOLUNTEERS**
Potential volunteers are recruited through advertising our Peer Advocacy Course in the “Derry Journal” and “Londonderry Sentinel”. Applicants for the course submit an application form and are invited to a face-to-face interview. It is essential that all applicants have experienced or are currently experiencing mental health issues. Applicants are then notified of the decision of the interview panel. Applicants who complete the course successfully will be presented with a certificate of attendance from Mind Yourself! and will also gain a Level 2 in Peer Advocacy in Mental Health certificate from the Open College Network. Those who complete the course successfully may then put their name forward to become a volunteer. It is not a necessary requirement to become a volunteer (although it is a desirable outcome), as the main emphasis is on the individual’s own recovery.
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Those who wish to become Volunteers are required to submit an Access (Northern Ireland) Check before commencing voluntary work in our organisation.
During the period 1st April 2022 until 31st March 2023, Volunteer hours totalled 1,520.
Our organisation could not exist without our loyal Volunteers who give up their free time on a daily basis to help others and we thank them for their hard work and commitment to the organisation.
## **MAIN ACTIVITIES TO FURTHER PUBLIC BENEFIT**
Mind Yourself! provides a listening ear, information, signposting, help with form completion, advocacy and support services to anyone experiencing depression, anxiety or any other form of mental ill health, as well as any other help we can provide at our office in Bishop Street.
These services are also provided at Grangewood Hospital, Gransha Park, Derry/Londonderry from 11am until 1pm Tuesdays and Thursdays and from 2pm to 4pm every Tuesday at the Tyrone and Fermanagh (T&F) Hospital, Omagh, under contract with the Western Health and Social Care Trust (WHSCT).
The following is a record of the number of clients that Mind Yourself! has provided assistance to during the period 1[st] April 2022 to 31 March 2023:
.
Telephone calls and visits to office...............531 clients Grangewood Hospital ..................................245 clients. Tyrone/Fermanagh (T&F).............................298 clients.
The Trustees of Mind Yourself! are committed to continue these services and are currently looking for funding to expand on them.
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## **MIND YOUSELF! AND HYGIENE REQUIREMENTS**
Since the lifting of Covid requirements, Mind Yourself! has reverted back to its original method of operating. Instead of clients having to access our services by telephone only (as was the case during Covid), they are now able to avail of our walk - in service once again, usually without the need for a prior appointment.
Although Covid 19 restrictions have been lifted, Mind Yourself! continues to adhere to strict hygiene requirements.
Social distancing has been relaxed, but Mind Yourself! provides face masks available on request for our volunteers, staff and clients. Hand cleanser is provided for clients and our volunteers and staff are encouraged to use it on a regular basis throughout the day.
The office is thoroughly cleaned at the end of each working day.
Health and safety procedures are observed and monitored closely with daily records kept of general cleaning throughout the premises.
Should further restrictions occur, Mind Yourself! is fully equipped to deal with the issues which may present.
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## **PEER ADVOCACY TRAINING**
Mind Yourself! was fortunate this year to secure funding for another year, supported by the Public Health Agency through the CLEAR Project. This enabled us to deliver our unique training programme, OCN Level 2 in Peer Advocacy in Mental Health.
Our model of Peer Advocacy Training has been successful for the past 24 years. The duration of the course was ten weeks, one day per week which covered many aspects of Mental Health including communication, stigma and empowerment, mental health law, housing and the social welfare system. We welcomed Guest speakers who gave talks on mental health, CBT and also mental health law. The course was followed by a further 6 support sessions of 4 hours per session where the candidates participated in activities to improve their mental well - being. These activities included Mindfulness, Meditation, Aromatherapy and Laughter Yoga and all proved to be a great success.
Four candidates successfully completed the Programme and all candidates agreed that the training and support sessions had a significant positive effect on their mental well-being, self-esteem and confidence and made them all more hopeful for the future.
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## _**PEER ADVOCACY in MENTAL HEALTH**_
||||**October 2022 - January2023**|
|---|---|---|---|
||||
**COURSE TIMETABLE**|
|**Day**|**1**|**26th October**|**Introduction**|
||||**What is Advocacy and the Role of the Advocate?**|
|**Day**|**2**|**2nd November**|**Communication.**|
|**Day**|**3**|**9th November**|**Mental Health Difficulties: Many Perspectives.**|
||||**Communication Problems. Evaluation Period.**|
|**Day**|**4**|**16th November**|**Mental Illness, Treatments and Therapies.**|
||||**Stigma and Empowerment.**|
|**Day**|**5**|**23rd November**|**Mental Health: The Law and the Person.**|
||||**Treatment: Alternative Views.**|
|**Day**|**6**|**30th November**|**Mental Health Resources Available Locally.**|
||||**Keeping Safe. Evaluation Period.**|
|**Day**|**7**|**7th December**|**Housing and Mental Health: Issues and Resources.**|
||||**Foyle Advocates, Code of Practice, Confidentiality.**|
|**Day**|**8**|**14th December**|**Welfare Rights and Benefits.**|
||||**Difficulties and Treatments: Alternative Views.**|
|**Day**|**9**|**4th January**|**Getting Started as an Advocate.**|
||||**Revision: Creating Questions for Quiz.**|
||||**Evaluation Period.**|
|**Day**|**10**|**11th January**|**Quiz (in Teams); Full Course Evaluation.**|
||||**Presentation of Certificates; Celebration Lunch**|
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## **A TYPICAL DAY IN THE OFFICE**
1. Ensure that advocacy room is warm, neat and tidy and that there is a supply of pens and paper in each room
2. There must be two Advocates on duty at all times. The Advocates will decide among themselves before the first client enters the office, which one will deal with the client.
3. Check telephone and message book for appointments for the day.
4. If an Advocate has called in sick, the Advocate on duty informs the Volunteer Co-ordinator who will secure adequate cover for that day.
5. The Advocates prepare to meet their clients and will offer them tea or coffee on arrival.
6. As the day progresses, Advocates deal with telephone clients as well as those coming into the office. This typically involves listening ear, providing mental health support, form completion, housing and Social Security information.
7. On other occasions Advocates may be involved in networking, distributing posters and leaflets to other organisations, such as Doctors’ surgeries, health centres, pharmacies etc to inform the public about our work.
8. At the end of the day, the Advocate in charge ensures that the heating, computers, lighting and all electric appliances are turned off and locks up.
## **EMPOWERMENT OF THE CLIENT**
Foyle Advocates promote empowerment and provide choices to our clients. This is done in many aspects of our work:
We are a listening ear service, and we are non-judgemental. We ourselves have had similar experiences to our clients. This empowers the client to know that they can discuss their issues in a private and confidential place and to be listened to by someone who can and does empathise with them.
We also signpost to other organisations that can help with specific issues, if need be. Our role is not to give advice or counsel, but to use our experiences of depression, anxiety and other forms of mental health issues to provide a listening ear, support and advocacy service and to give information on other services.
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## **REVIEW OF FINANCIAL POSITION AT THE END OF YEAR**
Mind yourself! accounts for the year ended 31[st] March 2023 were prepared in accordance with The Charities Act (Northern Ireland) 2008 and were approved by the Treasurer and Trustees.
The accounts were consequently examined by an Independent Examiner under Section 65 of the Charities Act.
Financial performance has been consistent with projected budgets and forecasts for the year.
## **Income**
Income receipts for the year totalled £37,229, an increase of £4,428 from the previous year. We received our regular income from WHSCT and also CLEAR funding to conduct our Peer Advocacy Training Programme.
## **Expenditure**
Expenditure for the year totalled £39,506, an increase of £4,656 from the previous financial year.
Wages and salaries remained the same as the previous financial year at £9,934. However, £1260 of this amount was apportioned to the CLEAR project and no duplicate funding occurred.
There was an increase of £3941 in Volunteers Expenses from the previous year as more Volunteers claimed expenses
CLEAR expenses amounted to £3068, plus a contribution towards wages.
There was a slight increase in Telephone and Internet Costs of £160.
There was a significant increase in Heating and Lighting Costs of £891 as all energy suppliers increased their rates.
There was also an increase in Bank Fees and Sundries of £33 and £270 respectively. There was a very small increase in Insurance costs. There was a decrease in Postage, Repairs and Maintenance and Subscriptions
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Rent, Accountancy Fees and Depreciation remained the same as 2021-2022 at £12,000, £1,128 and £350 respectively.
Apart from Heating and Lighting costs, all other expenditure remained as predicted by our annual budget.
## **Reserve Account**
Our reserve account stands at £26,574 as of 31[st] March 2023.
At 31[st] March 2023 we had accumulated restricted and unrestricted funds of £58,610. However, this cash reserve has been assigned to our future needs in the event of a reduction in funding or any future gap in funding.