The trustees present their annual report and financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2026.
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in note 1 to the financial statements and comply with the charity's Memorandum and Articles of Association, the Companies Act 2006 and "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) (effective 1 January 2019)".
The objectives of the Charity are to:
work for improvements in local mental health services
help make it possible for vulnerable people to voice their opinions
offer quality local services to challenge the stigma attached to people labelled “mentally ill” and increase public understanding of mental health issues
Derbyshire Mind’s Vision is:
“For everyone in Derbyshire to have good mental wellbeing and to live their best life.”
Derbyshire Mind’s Purpose is:
“To work with people in Derbyshire to deliver services and support, build awareness of mental health and promote mental wellbeing.”
Derbyshire Mind is recognised as a key voluntary sector service provider. Being part of this sector enables us to deliver services that are influenced by the needs of local service users in an innovative and cost effective way. We work closely with other mental health service providers in both the voluntary and statutory sectors, to ensure our existing and proposed services meet both the local and national agenda for mental health.
Derbyshire Mind has a positive local reputation, committed and highly skilled staff, quality awards which underpin our service delivery and an experienced board of trustees with a wide range of skills. Derbyshire Mind is committed to quality, both in terms of the services we offer and as an employer.
Derbyshire Mind has achieved the Mind Quality Mark (MQM) award – MQM involves a rigorous assessment process undertaken every three years which covers all aspects of charity governance and operations. Derbyshire Mind also holds Cyber Essentials Plus accreditation. Cyber Essentials is a Government-backed, industry-supported scheme to help organisations protect themselves against common online threats.
Derbyshire Mind’s services are funded by Derbyshire County Council, NHS Derby and Derbyshire Integrated Care Board, grant income and fundraised donations. We also receive occasional legacy donations.
The trustees have paid due regard to guidance issued by the Charity Commission in deciding what activities the charity should undertake.
Public Benefit
Derbyshire Mind works in a variety of locations throughout the City of Derby and the County of Derbyshire. We provide a range of services and support for people experiencing mental health problems.
During the financial year, Derbyshire Mind delivered the following services and projects:
Community Mental Wellbeing Services
Our community programme offers a varied menu of community based activities, groups and courses across Derbyshire and Derby City. These activities are all designed to achieve the aim of boosting mood, reducing isolation and loneliness, and connecting individuals to their community.
Our community programme is co-ordinated by Derbyshire Mind and delivered through a range of partner organisations.
MindSpace
The MindSpace programme consists of supportive community groups that create space for people to get together, meet new people and talk and be listened to in a friendly and inclusive group. These are currently supportive community ‘walk-and-talk’ groups in Derby City, Chesterfield and Swadlincote. All MindSpace walks are supported by Derbyshire Mind volunteers.
Supported Self-Help
Supported Self-Help is a short-term guided programme that empowers individuals with low to moderate mental health needs to discover tools to support and improve their mental health. It is an early intervention service aimed at anyone starting to experience symptoms of worsening mental health, such as stress, low mood, bereavement, worry, low self-esteem, and anger.
Crisis Support Drop-in Services
Our Crisis Support Drop-In services in Buxton, Ripley and Swadlincote offer an out-of-hours friendly and welcoming community crisis support space open to anyone over 18 experiencing a mental health crisis or emotional distress. We aim to offer people support and help at their time of need in a relaxed and comfortable non-clinical environment.
Derbyshire Recovery and Peer Support Service and Living Well Service
Derbyshire Mind deliver this service in the district of Erewash, as part of a partnership led by Rethink and incorporating two other VCFSE delivery partners (P3 and Derbyshire Federation for Mental Health). Derbyshire Mind employ Wellbeing Coaches and Peer Support Workers who work as part of multi-disciplinary teams to support people with their mental health and wellbeing.
Trauma Informed Derbyshire
We worked in partnership with the public health team at Derbyshire County Council to lead the development of systemwide support and training to help embed trauma informed practice and approaches. The vision of this work is to build a trauma-informed workforce, that is able to recognise the impacts of trauma and respond in ways that promote recovery.
We completed delivery of this programme in November 2025.
Contribution made by volunteers
Our MindSpace and Community Mental Wellbeing programmes and our Crisis Support Drop-in services could not be delivered without the commitment and support of our volunteers. During the period we have continued to recruit, train and support new and existing volunteers. At the end of March 2026, Derbyshire Mind had a total of 19 volunteers (including trustees).
Derbyshire Mind values the work of those people who raise funds to support our work. This year we have continued to benefit from fundraising activities and we wish to thank our fundraisers and friends for their loyal support and commitment.
There were 845 attendances in total across our Community Mental Wellbeing and MindSpace programmes.
We supported an average of 65 people per quarter through our Crisis Support Drop-in services, an increase of 16 from the previous year, and 97 per quarter through our Derbyshire Recovery and Peer Support/Living Well service in Erewash, an increase of 42 from the previous year.
Our Supported Self Help service supported an average of 53 people per quarter, an increase of 3 from the previous year.
246 people across the VCFSE sector attended our “Developing Trauma-Informed Understanding” workshops.
We successfully delivered our flagship fundraising event "Mental Elf" for the third time – introducing a timed 10k run in addition to the 5K fun run, with over 350 tickets sold, an increase of over 100 on the previous year.
We secured c.£185,000 of new income through our business development and fundraising activities.
We completed our Mind Quality Mark re-accreditation and we were the winner of the Information Governance category for the Local Mind Excellence Awards 2025. We also completed Cyber Essentials re-accreditation.
Safeguarding Adults and Children
Derbyshire Mind has policies in place for safeguarding adults and children, which are reviewed and updated regularly. There is a named safeguarding lead on both the board of trustees and the senior management team, who take leadership responsibility for the organisation’s safeguarding arrangements. Staff and volunteers are provided with appropriate safeguarding training, including as part of their induction programme.
The year to 31 March 2026 produced a net surplus of £71,428. The trustees exercise close scrutiny of the financial affairs of Derbyshire Mind and Management Accounts are reviewed monthly by the Finance Committee, and at Finance Committee meetings before being made available to all trustees for approval at Board of Trustees’ meetings.
Reserves policy and going concern
A Board approved reserves policy is in place to develop a level of reserves to cover three months running costs which currently approximates to £71,986.
At 31 March 2026, the charity had total funds of £339,198 of which £58,671 are designated reserves and £50,761 are restricted reserves, leaving unrestricted, available reserves of £229,766.
The trustees will continue to keep the allocation of designated reserves under review.
Principal Funding Sources
Derbyshire Mind is mainly funded through Service Level Agreements with the local authority and NHS, and grant funding from the National Lottery. In the year to 31 March 2026 we received £269,087 from Derbyshire County Council, £205,682 from Derby and Derbyshire Integrated Care Board and £85,715 from the National Lottery.
In the year to 31 March 2026 we received donations and legacies of £168,127.
Due to continuing constraints on public expenditure, the majority of the support from the statutory bodies and local authorities is not expected to increase significantly over the foreseeable future.
Investment powers and policy
The trustees are permitted to invest the monies of the charity not immediately required for its own purposes in or upon such investments, securities or property as may be thought fit in accordance with the governing document of the charity, the Memorandum and Articles of Association.
Plans for future periods
During the coming year, we will
Continue the delivery of operational activities to support our strategic objectives
Undertake a review of our strategic objectives
Continue to monitor success against our strategic objectives, through quarterly reports provided to the board
Strengthen the board of trustees through further recruitment
Continue to develop our income generation activity to ensure that Derbyshire Mind remains financially sustainable
Continue to play a key role in the wider voluntary sector and health and care system in Derby and Derbyshire
Complete Cyber Essentials Plus re-accreditation
Derbyshire Mind (formerly Derby Mind) was established as a local mental health group in 1967 to promote the preservation and safeguarding of mental health and the relief of persons suffering from mental disorder, in accordance with the aims and objectives of Mind.
Working in the voluntary sector, Derbyshire Mind is a registered charity and company limited by guarantee governed by its Memorandum and Articles of Association (revised 21 October 2025). There are currently 101 members who have agreed to contribute £1 in the event of the charity winding up.
The trustees, who are also the directors for the purpose of company law, and who served during the year and up to the date of signature of the financial statements were:
Appointment of trustees
The Trustees (Directors) are appointed by ordinary resolution at an Annual General Meeting (AGM). A trustee may also be appointed by a resolution of the other trustees.
At each AGM one-third of the trustees must retire from office. Trustees must also retire after a three year term of office. A trustee can be re-elected for a second term of three years, but in normal circumstances no trustee may serve longer than a maximum of six years. In exceptional circumstances, the trustees may agree a six month extension to the second term of three years, provided that a trustee does not under any circumstances serve longer than six years and six months.
The trustees may appoint a person who is willing to be Chair and may at any time revoke such appointment. The Chair may serve a maximum term of office of three years and may not be re-elected as Chair. The trustees intend to keep this under review.
The trustees may appoint a person who is willing to be Vice Chair and may at any time revoke such appointment. The Vice Chair may serve a maximum term of office of three years and may not be re-elected as Vice Chair. The trustees intend to keep this under review.
Derbyshire Mind provides role descriptions for Trustee and Officer posts.
Organisation
Derbyshire Mind has clear roles and responsibilities for its trustees, which are set out in role descriptions. The board of trustees meets six times during the year to administer the charity and to ensure that Derbyshire Mind meets its legal, financial and charitable responsibilities.
In addition, the Board delegates certain duties to two current sub-committees:
The Finance Sub-Committee
The Governance Sub-Committee
The board is kept up to date with information on all aspects of the organisation. The way in which information is presented varies. It may be by report or proposal, inviting an expert to discuss issues, or by a briefing from the Chief Executive. Papers are always circulated at least one week in advance and members are also kept informed between meetings by mailings.
During the financial year, the board and the sub-committees have met both face to face and via video calls. Trustees have access to a range of business information on our secure server.
During the financial year, the senior management team who are responsible for the management of Derbyshire Mind has included the Chief Executive, Head of Central Services, Head of Partnerships and Services and Business and Operations Manager.
Trustees' responsibilities in relation to the financial statements The board of trustees meets six times during the year with a focused agenda. In respect of their responsibilities in relation to the financial statements they are required to:
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Induction and training of trustees
Derbyshire Mind’s work is overseen by the board of trustees which currently has a membership of four.
Each trustee receives induction and mandatory training when joining the organisation, as well as on-going support and refresher training.
Trustees are offered development opportunities via specific training events or meetings to enhance their understanding of their role and responsibilities.
On leaving trustees are invited to complete an exit interview.
Pay policy for key management personnel
The trustees of Derbyshire Mind set the pay structure of the senior management team via an annual review. Any annual pay awards for staff, including the senior management team, require approval from the full board.
Related parties
Derbyshire Mind is an independent local association, affiliated to the national charity Mind.
Derbyshire Mind is a member of Community Action Derby and The Derbyshire Mental Health Forum.
The trustees' report was approved by the Board of Trustees.
The trustees, who are also the directors of Derbyshire MIND for the purpose 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).
Company law requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including the income and expenditure, of the charitable company for that year.
In preparing these financial statements, the trustees are required to:
- select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
- observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP;
- make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
- state whether applicable UK Accounting Standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements; and
- prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in operation.
The trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity 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 charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
Opinion
We have audited the financial statements of Derbyshire MIND (the ‘charity’) for the year ended 31 March 2026 which comprise the statement of financial activities, the balance sheet, the statement of cash flows and notes to the financial statements, including significant accounting policies. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards, including Financial Reporting Standard 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:
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 charity in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the financial statements 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 to provide a basis for our opinion.
In auditing the financial statements, 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 at least twelve months from when the financial statements 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 other than the financial statements and our auditor's report thereon. 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 we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon. Our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the financial statements or our knowledge obtained in the course of the audit, or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify such material inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, we are required to determine whether this gives rise to a material misstatement 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 to report in this regard.
We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters in relation to which the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 requires us to report to you if, in our opinion:
the information given in the financial statements is inconsistent in any material respect with the trustees' report; or
sufficient accounting records have not been kept; or
the financial statements are not in agreement with the accounting records; or
we have not received all the information and explanations we require for our audit.
A further description of our responsibilities is available on the Financial Reporting Council’s website at: https://www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities. This description forms part of our auditor's report.
Extent to which the audit was considered capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud
Irregularities, including fraud, are instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations. We design procedures in line with our responsibilities, outlined above and on the Financial Reporting Council’s website, to detect material misstatements in respect of irregularities, including fraud.
We obtain and update our understanding of the entity, its activities, its control environment, and likely future developments, including in relation to the legal and regulatory framework applicable and how the entity is complying with that framework. Based on this understanding, we identify and assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to fraud or error, design and perform audit procedures responsive to those risks, and obtain audit evidence that is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion. This includes consideration of the risk of acts by the entity that were contrary to applicable laws and regulations, including fraud.
In response to the risk of irregularities and non-compliance with laws and regulations, including fraud, we designed procedures which included:
Enquiry of management and those charged with governance around actual and potential litigation and claims as well as actual, suspected and alleged fraud;
Reviewing minutes of meetings of those charged with governance;
Assessing the extent of compliance with the laws and regulations considered to have a direct material effect on the financial statements or the operations of the entity through enquiry and inspection;
Reviewing financial statement disclosures and testing to supporting documentation to assess compliance with applicable laws and regulations;
Performing audit work over the risk of management bias and override of controls, including testing of journal entries and other adjustments for appropriateness, evaluating the business rationale of significant transactions outside the normal course of business and reviewing accounting estimates for indicators of potential bias.
Because of the inherent limitations of an audit, there is a risk that we will not detect all irregularities, including those leading to a material misstatement in the financial statements or non-compliance with regulation. This risk increases the more that compliance with a law or regulation is removed from the events and transactions reflected in the financial statements, as we will be less likely to become aware of instances of non-compliance. The risk of not detecting a material misstatement resulting from fraud is higher than for one resulting from error, as fraud may involve collusion, forgery, intentional omissions, misrepresentations, or the override of internal control.
Use of our report
This report is made solely to the charity’s trustees, 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 charity’s trustees those matters we are required to state 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 charity and the charity’s trustees as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.
Azets Audit Services is eligible for appointment as auditor of the charity by virtue of its eligibility for appointment as auditor of a company under section 1212 of the Companies Act 2006.
Investments
The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year. All income and expenditure derive from continuing activities.
Derbyshire MIND is a private company limited by guarantee incorporated in England and Wales. The registered office is Derby West Business Centre, Ashbourne Road, Derby, DE22 4NB.
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the charity's governing document, the Companies Act 2006, FRS 102 “The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland” (“FRS 102”) and the Charities SORP "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)" (effective 1 January 2019). The charity is a Public Benefit Entity as defined by FRS 102.
The financial statements are prepared in sterling, which is the functional currency of the charity. Monetary amounts in these financial statements are rounded to the nearest £.
The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention. The principal accounting policies adopted are set out below.
At the time of approving the financial statements, the trustees have a reasonable expectation that the charity has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. Thus the trustees continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing the financial statements.
The trustees recognise that a planned deficit budget is in place for the financial year 2026/27, and that two key commissioned contracts currently have a contract end date of 31st March 2027. However, levels of unrestricted reserves are sufficient to support forward planning, with continued monitoring and contingency plans in place.
Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of their charitable objectives.
Designated funds are unrestricted funds earmarked by the trustees for particular purposes.
Restricted funds are subject to specific conditions by donors or grantors as to how they may be used. The purposes and uses of the restricted funds are set out in the notes to the financial statements.
Cash donations are recognised on receipt. Other donations are recognised once the charity has been notified of the donation, unless performance conditions require deferral of the amount. Income tax recoverable in relation to donations received under Gift Aid or deeds of covenant is recognised at the time of the donation.
Expenditure is recognised on an accrual basis as a liability is incurred. Expenditure includes VAT which cannot be recovered, and is reported as part of the expenditure to which it relates.
Charitable expenditure comprises those costs incurred by the charity in the delivery of its activities and services for its beneficiaries. It includes both costs that can be allocated directly to such activities and those costs of an indirect nature necessary to support them.
Governance costs include those costs associated with meeting the constitutional and statutory requirements of the charity and include the audit fees and costs linked to the strategic management of the charity.
All costs are allocated between the expenditure categories of the Statement of Financial Activities on a basis designated to reflect the use of the resource. Costs relating to a particular activity are allocated directly, others are apportioned on an appropriate basis.
Tangible fixed assets are initially measured at cost and subsequently measured at cost or valuation, net of depreciation and any impairment losses. Equipment costing more than £1,000 is capitalised.
Depreciation is recognised so as to write off the cost or valuation of assets less their residual values over their useful lives on the following bases:
The gain or loss arising on the disposal of an asset is determined as the difference between the sale proceeds and the carrying value of the asset, and is recognised in the statement of financial activities.
At each reporting end date, the charity reviews the carrying amounts of its tangible assets to determine whether there is any indication that those assets have suffered an impairment loss. If any such indication exists, the recoverable amount of the asset is estimated in order to determine the extent of the impairment loss (if any).
Cash and cash equivalents include cash in hand, deposits held at call with banks, other short-term liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less, and bank overdrafts. Bank overdrafts are shown within borrowings in current liabilities.
The charity has elected to apply the provisions of Section 11 ‘Basic Financial Instruments’ and Section 12 ‘Other Financial Instruments Issues’ of FRS 102 to all of its financial instruments.
Financial instruments are recognised in the charity's balance sheet when the charity becomes party to the contractual provisions of the instrument.
Financial assets and liabilities are offset, with the net amounts presented in the financial statements, when there is a legally enforceable right to set off the recognised amounts and there is an intention to settle on a net basis or to realise the asset and settle the liability simultaneously.
Basic financial assets, which include debtors and cash and bank balances, are initially measured at transaction price including transaction costs and are subsequently carried at amortised cost using the effective interest method unless the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction, where the transaction is measured at the present value of the future receipts discounted at a market rate of interest. Financial assets classified as receivable within one year are not amortised.
Basic financial liabilities, including creditors and bank loans are initially recognised at transaction price unless the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction, where the debt instrument is measured at the present value of the future payments discounted at a market rate of interest. Financial liabilities classified as payable within one year are not amortised.
Debt instruments are subsequently carried at amortised cost, using the effective interest rate method.
Trade creditors are obligations to pay for goods or services that have been acquired in the ordinary course of operations from suppliers. Amounts payable are classified as current liabilities if payment is due within one year or less. If not, they are presented as non-current liabilities. Trade creditors are recognised initially at transaction price and subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method.
Financial liabilities are derecognised when the charity’s contractual obligations expire or are discharged or cancelled.
The charity is exempt from tax on income and gains to the extent that these are applied exclusively to its charitable objects.
The cost of any unused holiday entitlement is recognised in the period in which the employee’s services are received.
Termination benefits are recognised immediately as an expense when the charity is demonstrably committed to terminate the employment of an employee or to provide termination benefits.
Payments to defined contribution retirement benefit schemes are charged as an expense as they fall due.
In the application of the charity’s accounting policies, the trustees are required to make judgements, estimates and assumptions about the carrying amount of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. The estimates and associated assumptions are based on historical experience and other factors that are considered to be relevant. Actual results may differ from these estimates.
The estimates and underlying assumptions are reviewed on an ongoing basis. Revisions to accounting estimates are recognised in the period in which the estimate is revised where the revision affects only that period, or in the period of the revision and future periods where the revision affects both current and future periods.
Derbyshire County Council service level agreements
Other project income
National Mind project income
Project costs
Premises costs
Miscellaneous
Printing, postage, stationery and advertising
Motor and travel
Telephone
Other charitable costs
Computer equipment and software
Staff training
Legal and professional fees
Recruitment costs and temporary staff
Governance costs includes payments to the auditors of £8,340 (2025- £8,622) for audit fees.
The average monthly number of employees during the year was:
Redundancy payments totalling £1,441 were made in the reporting period and are included in wages and salaries above. There were no amounts in respect of these which remained unpaid at the balance sheet date.
The charity is exempt from tax on income and gains falling within section 505 of the Taxes Act 1988 or section 252 of the Taxation of Chargeable Gains Act 1992 to the extent that these are applied to its charitable objects.
Deferred income relates primarily to service level agreements spanning the year-end. Accruals and deferred income includes the amount of £Nil (2025: £269,087) in respect of unspent monies under Derbyshire County Council service level agreements.
The charity operates a defined contribution pension scheme for all qualifying employees. The assets of the scheme are held separately from those of the charity in an independently administered fund.
These are unrestricted funds which are material to the charity's activities.
The restricted funds of the charity comprise the unexpended balances of donations and grants held on trust subject to specific conditions by donors as to how they may be used.
The unrestricted funds of the charity comprise the unexpended balances of donations and grants which are not subject to specific conditions by donors and grantors as to how they may be used.
At the reporting end date the charity had outstanding commitments for future minimum lease payments under non-cancellable operating leases, which fall due as follows:
The remuneration of key management personnel was as follows:
There were no disclosable related party transactions during the year (2025 - none).
The charity had no material debt during the year.