As we reflect on the past year, I want to begin by acknowledging the incredible dedication, resilience, and compassion of our staff and volunteers at Sheffield Mind. The charity sector continues to face unprecedented challenges, from increasing demand for mental health support to financial pressures that impact how we operate. Yet, through it all, our team has remained unwavering in their commitment to making a real difference in the lives of the people we serve.
We have had the privilege of delivering some truly inspiring projects this year, including our collaboration with GB Boxing, the Magpies Hoarding Project, and our inclusion as a regular provider for the sensory tent at Tramlines Festival, to name a few. These initiatives have helped us engage communities in new ways and provide vital, accessible support to those who need it most.
Looking ahead, we hold hope for positive change both at a government and regional council level. The ongoing challenges faced by mental health charities demand stronger, sustained support, and we urge our leaders to recognise the critical role organisations like ours play in tackling the mental health crisis that affects so many in society today. We also look forward with optimism to the progress of national Mind and the vital role it continues to play in shaping a better future for mental health support across the UK.
Our thanks extend to our valued regional partners across South Yorkshire. Collaboration is at the heart of what we do, and we are grateful for the shared commitment to improving mental health outcomes. We look forward to strengthening these partnerships in the years to come.
I would also like to sincerely thank my fellow trustees for their guidance, commitment, and support throughout the year. Their dedication to governance and oversight helps ensure Sheffield Mind remains focused, accountable, and impactful.
A special note of thanks to our leadership team — CEO Margaret Lewis, Head of Services Edyta Bancer, and Business Development Manager Lindsay Doyle-Price — for their inspiring leadership and dedication. We are also delighted to welcome Helen Ward as our new Finance Manager, whose expertise will be invaluable as we navigate an increasingly complex financial landscape.
Finally, we want to acknowledge the ever-increasing financial challenges facing the sector. We are deeply grateful to every supporter, donor, and fundraiser who has contributed to our work. Every pound raised helps us continue to deliver vital services and support to those who need it most.
As we enter the new year, I wish everyone connected to Sheffield Mind a positive and hopeful 12 months ahead. Together, we will continue to champion mental health and wellbeing for our community.
The trustees present their annual report and financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2025.
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 governing document, 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).
Sheffield Mind was founded in 1978. We’re a registered charity and a company limited by guarantee. We are an independent, autonomous organisation, affiliated to national Mind, but responsible for our own fundraising. We are one of 100+ local Mind Associations across England and Wales that have agreed to support the mission and values of national Mind and strive to reflect them in our governing documents, principles and work.
Our Mission
To improve wellbeing and provide advice and support to empower anyone experiencing a mental health problem. We work locally with partners, to improve service provision and increase awareness.
Our Vision
We won't give up until everyone experiencing a mental health problem gets both support and respect.
Our Values
Informed: We listen, in order to improve
Diverse: We provide flexible and diverse services
Client Centred: The service user is at the core of everything we do
Supportive: Our services are recovery-focused
Together: We’re stronger in partnerships
The trustees have paid due regard to guidance issued by the Charity Commission in deciding what activities the charity should undertake.
Sheffield Mind has been delivering mental health services in the city for 47 years. We're a respected and trusted provider and we pride ourselves on the standards of care and support provided to service users by all staff, regardless of role.
We provide a range of services to address multiple and complex mental health needs in people of all ages.
Events in the year
In April, we welcomed a team from the Moto Foundation (the charitable arm of Moto Hospitality, the motorway service area provider), who, through the fundraising they had undertaken for national Mind, had funded our Creative Minds art therapy project, which we ran in partnership with Roshni Asian Women’s Centre. The Moto team and guest from national Mind heard from service users, staff and volunteers about the project’s positive impact.
In May we were delighted to announce that we’d become the charity partner of GB Boxing and were working with the GB staff to look at ways in which they could support the work of Sheffield Mind. Since then, we have gone on to establish regular GB Boxing sessions at Active Minds, the project we run in conjunction with our friends at Football Units, Racism Divides.
We were also very pleased to announce that we had been chosen as one of three national partners in the Echo Authentic Voice project, supporting survivors of domestic abuse to be heard and to use their experiences of influence policy-makers.
In June we began meeting regularly with the other South Yorkshire Minds (Doncaster Mind and Rotherham & Barnsley Mind), to look at ways in which we could work more closely together, to support the people of South Yorkshire. As a result of this closer relationship we have signed a Memorandum of Understanding and also held our first joint fundraiser, the Mental Elf run in December 2024, in Clifton Park, Rotherham. We look forward to welcoming Mental Elf to Sheffield, in Hillsborough Park, in December 2025.
In July our Magpies service, which supports people who struggle with hoarding issues, held it’s first conference and also debuted the play “No Place for Love” which had been written by local author Susan Downer, based on a series of writing workshops with Magpies clients. Building on the success of the first conference and responding to public demand, a second conference is planned for September 2025.
In December, our Director of Service, Edyta and I were very pleased to be keynote speakers at a Primary & Community Mental Health learning event where we talked to over 100 GPs and other health care professionals about the many benefits which Sheffield Mind and the wider VCSE sector brings.
Finally, towards the end of this financial year, we learned that we had gained Menopause Friendly Employer Accreditation. This is an industry-recognised mark of excellence that certifies employers who demonstrate high standards and proven practices in supporting employees experiencing menopause and perimenopause. A special thank you goes to Director of Services, Edyta Bancer, who spearheaded this work.
Thank you also to all the staff and volunteers who have worked so hard to make Sheffield Mind such a special place and thank you also to the board of trustees for your support and guidance.
Commercial
We continue to develop and promote our Revive services, which include counselling for adults and children, anger management, and supported self-help. In addition, we have been expanding our training portfolio and we are proud to have achieved the Enhanced standard for our Workplace Wellbeing services on the Mind Quality Assurance Framework, a recognition of both the quality and impact of our content and delivery.
Over the past year, we have delivered training to a wide range of local companies and have been developing a series of bespoke sessions as part of our Employee Assistance Programme (EAP), which we hope to formally launch later this year.
Corporate Support
We are deeply grateful to the local business community for their generous support—both financial and in-kind. A special thank you to Nationwide and Sheffield Mutual for selecting Sheffield Mind as their Charity of the Year and also GQA Qualifications for raising funds through the sale of their custom-made Q-opoly board game, inspired by Monopoly and featuring their regular clients.
We are especially thankful to True North Brewery for their continued support, from organising the annual Sheffield Half Pint Marathon to naming Sheffield Mind as their partner charity for this year’s Euros. Thanks also to Boohoo for their generous clothing donation to support our Clothes Swap event—thanks to them, we've never been better dressed!
Community Fundraising
The creativity and commitment of our community never cease to amaze us. We are incredibly grateful to everyone who rattled a tin, baked a cake, hosted an event, or simply found new ways to raise funds for Sheffield Mind.
Music events proved especially popular this year. Factor 50 kicked things off with a 12-hour dance party, while rock band Feral and girl band Novaline raised the roof with their fundraising gigs. Maggie Meeley, a colleague from the PCMH Mental Health Transformation Programme, hosted a home festival serving a 100 scones and homemade jam to attendees! We were also delighted to receive support from the University Brass Band and Music Society, who ran successful events and raffles on our behalf.
Student groups continue to champion our cause: the Latin and Ballroom Society hosted a Strictly-inspired dance fundraiser, the Sociology Society ran a bake sale, and Psych Soc held a spooky horror movie marathon at Halloween.
A local theatre company, founded by former pupils of Ecclesfield School, generously donated proceeds from their debut show Punk Rock. We were also honoured to receive a donation from participants in the William Ramsay Cup, an annual football competition that raises awareness of mental health and gambling harm.
Our own staff got involved too—several completed the Sheffield Half Marathon, while others took part in the Walk Across the Pond, a virtual challenge covering the 4,200-mile distance from Sheffield, South Yorkshire to Sheffield, Alabama!
Trusts and Foundations
We were pleased to receive ongoing support from the Facey Foundation, Dixon Pitchfork Trust and Zachary Merton and George Woofindin Convalescent Trust and would like to thank them for their commitment to our work.
We are truly grateful for every penny raised this year and would like to thank everyone who has given so generously of their time, shared their skills, and done what they can to support mental health in Sheffield. Your kindness and commitment make a real difference.
Overall income in the year totals £1,055,444 this is decrease of 2% on the previous year. This drop is due to multi year grants ending in the period. Expenditure has increased significantly to £1,145,527, this is a 7.5% increase on the previous year. The increase is due to additional staff members being employed in the year and wage increases. The reduction in income and increase in expenditure has resulted in a deficit for the period of £90,083.
Cash reserves remain healthy at £1,833,985 which is sufficient to cover both restricted and designated funds.
It is the policy of the charity that unrestricted funds which have not been designated for a specific use should be maintained at a level equivalent to between three and six month’s expenditure. The trustees consider that reserves at this level will ensure that, in the event of a significant drop in funding, they will be able to continue the charity’s current activities while consideration is given to ways in which additional funds may be raised. This level of reserves has been maintained throughout the year.
The operations of the charity are heavily dependent upon our hardworking staff. The increase in Employer's National Insurance, from 13.8% to 15% and reduction in secondary threshold (the level at which employers start to pay National Insurance) from £9,100 to £5,000 will have a significant impact upon the charity's finances for the coming year. This comes at a time where funding is falling in real terms and the need for mental health support is growing. The estimated impact for the year to 31 March 2026, after taking account of the increased employer's allowance, is an increased cost of circa £22,500.
The charity is a company limited by guarantee.
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:
None of the trustees has any beneficial interest in the company. All of the trustees are members of the company and guarantee to contribute £1 in the event of a winding up.
The company's current policy concerning the payment of trade creditors is to follow the CBI's Prompt Payers Code (copies are available from the CBI, Centre Point, 103 New Oxford Street, London WC1A 1DU).
The company's current policy concerning the payment of trade creditors is to:
settle the terms of payment with suppliers when agreeing the terms of each transaction;
ensure that suppliers are made aware of the terms of payment by inclusion of the relevant terms in contracts; and
pay in accordance with the company's contractual and other legal obligations.
Trade creditors of the company at the year end were equivalent to 38 day's purchases, based on the average daily amount invoiced by suppliers during the year.
The trustees, who are also the directors of Sheffield Mind Limited 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.
In accordance with the company's articles, a resolution proposing that Knowles Warwick Audit Services Limited be reappointed as auditor of the company will be put at a General Meeting.
The trustees' report was approved by the Board of Trustees.
Opinion
We have audited the financial statements of Sheffield Mind Limited (the ‘charity’) for the year ended 31 March 2025 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.
As explained more fully in the statement of trustees' responsibilities, the trustees, who are also the directors of the charity for the purpose of company law, are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements 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 statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error. In preparing the financial statements, the trustees are responsible for assessing the charity’s ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless the trustees either intend to liquidate the charitable company or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so.
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 to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an auditor's report that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with ISAs (UK) will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these financial statements.
The extent to which our procedures are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud, is detailed below.
We assessed the susceptibility of the company’s financial statements to material misstatement, including how fraud might occur, by;
Making enquiries of management as to where they considered there was susceptibility to fraud, their knowledge of actual, suspected and alleged fraud; and
Considering the internal controls in place to mitigate risks of fraud and non-compliance with laws and regulations.
In response to the risk of revenue recognition, we;
Performed analytical procedures to identify unusual transactions; and
Performed detailed substantive testing across all revenue streams
In response to the risk of fraud through management bias and override of controls, we:
Performed analytical procedures to identify unusual transactions;
Assessed whether judgements and assumptions made in determining the accounting estimates were indicative of potential bias; and
Investigated the rationale behind significant or unusual transactions.
In response to 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 to underlying supporting documentation
Enquiring of management as to actual and potential litigation and claims; and
Reviewing correspondence with HMRC and other relevant parties.
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.
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.
Knowles Warwick Audit Services Limited 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.
The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year. All income and expenditure derive from continuing activities.
Sheffield Mind Limited is a private company limited by guarantee incorporated in England and Wales. The registered office is The Wellbeing Centre, 110 Sharrow Lane, Sheffield, S11 8AL.
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, modified to include certain items at fair value. 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.
Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of their charitable objectives.
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 once there is a legal or constructive obligation to transfer economic benefit to a third party, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefits will be required in settlement, and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably.
Expenditure is classified by activity. The costs of each activity are made up of the total of direct costs and shared costs, including support costs involved in undertaking each activity. Direct costs attributable to a single activity are allocated directly to that activity. Shared costs which contribute to more than one activity and support costs which are not attributable to a single activity are apportioned between those activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources. Central staff costs are allocated on the basis of time spent, and depreciation charges are allocated on the portion of the asset’s use.
Tangible fixed assets are initially measured at cost and subsequently measured at cost or valuation, net of depreciation and any impairment losses.
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 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.
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.
The average monthly number of employees during the year was:
The remuneration of key management personnel was as follows:
The charity is exempt from taxation on its activities because all its income is applied for charitable purposes.
Included in other creditors is an amount of £861,993 (2024 - £907,367) for Self Directed Support relating to funds held on behalf of clients. These funds are held in a separate ring fenced bank account which is included in cash and bank on the balance sheet.
Deferred income is included in the financial statements as follows:
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. These include designated funds which have been set aside out of unrestricted funds by the trustees for specific purposes.
There were no disclosable related party transactions during the year (2024 - none).
The charity had no material debt during the year.