Oxfordshire Mind Annual Review 2013
Many thanks - something went right today so I’m really grateful for your help. Feedback to the Information Line
The help I received was fantastic. I think the service is brilliant & I would have been lost without it. Feedback to the Benefits for Better Mental Health team
Thank you so much for your help today & all the very useful information you have sent me. The GP appointment went well & it’s a start on a road for recovery for my son. Thank you sincerely for taking time to help me. Feedback to the Information Line
The tutors were kind, patient & assertive. The group interacted well & the course was thorough. I enjoyed the positive affirmations & being part of the group. Participant in an ‘Assertiveness’ course
She gave me confidence to reapply for my benefit, & rang in between to check things were progressing. Feedback to the Benefits for Better Mental Health Team
To request this information in a different format, including Braille or larger print, please contact Honey Lucas on 01865 263735 or email honey.lucas@oxfordshire-mind.org.uk
Introduction from the Chair of the Trustees I am very pleased to sign off another year, in which we have been able to provide high quality services to an increased number of service users. As we know, around 1 in 4 of the population will report poor mental health at some stage in their life. Here at Oxfordshire Mind, we strive to ensure there is someone, somewhere on hand, in that time of need.
functioning at all levels from the individual project to the Board, the award was hard earned, but an honour nonetheless. Our Strategic Plan has also been the focus of much hard work this year, helping us focus our efforts to make sure Oxfordshire Mind can continue to develop services in the most effective way in years to come.
Our Annual Review gives us the opportunity to look back at the year & remember all of the challenges & triumphs that have come our way. The quotes & stories from people we have been working with, show how our services have grown & developed.
We couldn’t deliver this important work without the combined efforts of everyone involved: the people using our services, our staff, volunteers, Trustees & colleagues from partner organisations. Our funders in particular deserve, as ever, our hearty thanks. We will continue in our aim to give excellent value for money.
This year has marked some important milestones too. Our innovative Wellbeing Service is two years old & our funders have recognised its success in helping people get the support they need, by extending our contract for another year.
We’ve had some significant staff changes this year & I’d like to thank everyone whose collective hard work make Oxfordshire Mind the friendly, supportive & successful organisation it undoubtedly is.
The quality of our work was recognised with the award of a coveted Charities Commission Quality Mark & the Mind Quality Standard, achieved at the highest level. As the assessment included looking into all the nooks & crannies of the organisation & assessing
John Copley, Chair of the Trustees 1
Overview of the year
Participants in a volunteer training workshop. This year 97 people have trained with us, with 70% going on to become active volunteers for Oxfordshire Mind
2012/ 13 brought a number of challenges that impacted on how we were able to do our work. From significant changes in the local NHS, to the introduction of a new national benefits framework, we have had many new realities to absorb.
What hasn’t changed, however, is our determination to provide the best support we can for people affected by mental health problems in Oxfordshire.
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Patrick Taylor, Chief Executive of Oxfordshire Mind Our Benefits for Better Mental You have treated me Health (BBMH) team have been at with respect & helped the forefront of helping people cope me to feel more positive with the impact of worrying about myself changes to the benefits system. The Benefits for Better Mental Health Despite the ending of our original service has helped hundreds of people funding for the service, we realised understand & manage their benefits that providing expert benefits advice had never been more crucial. That The innovative Wellbeing Service was why we made the decision to had its second birthday this year, & use our reserves to keep this vital continues to bring support to people service open to vulnerable people with mental health problems in all until more external funding areas of the county. The impact of was secured. our services are clear, with thousands of people benefiting each year.
Our Five Ways to Wellbeing Roadshow raised awareness about mental health in many villages & towns around the county
Despite the recent upheavals in the structures of our local NHS organisations, we’ve been given a one-year extension to our contract to provide the Wellbeing Service. We’re not standing still, however, & we’ve recently won funding for new projects to bring our work into new areas, including with armed forces families, businesses, students, & areas of deprivation in Oxford City. 3
Overview of the year The Mind Response Housing Partnership continues to expand & provide safe & supported housing to people with mental health problems. The service now has 10 housing projects, with housing in many parts of Oxfordshire, & supports over 70 people who would otherwise Partnership working is also key to struggle to live independently. With our TalkingSpace service, which demand for affordable brings psychological therapies to accommodation growing all the thousands of Oxfordshire residents. time, & rents in Oxfordshire Our partnership with Oxford Health particularly high, the Housing NHS Trust to provide this free Service is a lifeline for many people service has been recognised in a managing long-term mental health prestigious Kings Fund report as an problems. excellent example of collaboration between the NHS & the charity sector. I think that Mind has really worthwhile projects that are not otherwise covered by the NHS or other mental health charity, & I’m really glad that I could contribute to these projects One of our many volunteers sums up why volunteering for Oxfordshire Mind is so worthwhile
Patrick Taylor (second left) & colleagues from Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust at the House of Commons to launch the Kings Fund report ŠOxford Health NHS Foundation Trust
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Patrick Taylor, Chief Executive of Oxfordshire Mind We’ve been delighted this year to be again awarded the highest level of national Mind’s quality mark. Our Housing Service has also gained recognition under the Supporting People QAF award. Both awards recognise the hard work & impact of our team, & help to show people using our services, partners, & funders, the high quality of the services & support we provide.
None of these achievements would have been possible without the commitment & sheer hard work of our staff & volunteers, or without the support of our funders & partner organisations. Thank you!
Chief Executive, Oxfordshire Mind
In Spring 2013 we encouraged supporters to knit a square to show their support for mental health. The resulting celebration scarf was over 50 feet long! 5
Stories of people using our services
This powerful artwork was created by people using our Wellbeing Service in the south of Oxfordshire, for an exhibition marking World Mental Health Day 2013.
Holly’s story Holly became a tenant of Micklewood House in East Oxford following some time in hospital. With the help of the housing staff, she began to work towards small, future goals – seeing her confidence & self-esteem slowly improve as a result. She learned to manage her mental wellbeing & recognise when & how to seek help when things were not going well.
After four years with Mind Response supported housing, Holly started to work towards independent living & she was offered a Local Authority flat very close to her family. To make sure Holly had some ongoing support, her Micklewood workers put her in contact with the Council’s tenancy sustainment officer, & they visited her new flat to help her settle in. 6
Stories of people using our services Mary’s story
George’s story
Mary has experienced mental health problems for many years. Whilst attending an Oxfordshire Mind group at The Mill, Mary learnt about volunteering as a Peer Supporter. She was keen to take this opportunity to use her own experiences of mental health problems in a positive way. She said the training she received was:
After bereavements & a relationship breakdown, the 67 year old George got in touch with Oxfordshire Mind. After speaking with a Wellbeing Worker he found out about a Self Esteem course & decided to enrol.
an opportunity to really connect with
shared & genuine understanding of
others & share experiences, & to learn together. The course felt important to me & brought me alive.
One of the most important things about the course for me was the other people in the group – we all supported one another & had a each others’ experiences, which really helped.
Despite finding it quite challenging Mary has gone on to volunteer as a at first, George discovered that he began to feel more confident & Peer Supporter. She is finding the positive as the course went on. experience both enjoyable & rewarding & feels that it also helps her own mental wellbeing. Whilst I am at the Peer Support Groups I feel ‘real’ somehow – as if I am not having to put on a performance – I can just be me. I feel stronger as a person & more valued.
It was useful that the support did not end after the course ended, & I have been able to undertake some recovery work with Mind. I am now keen to help others & will possibly look at some volunteering opportunities in the future when I retire.
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Finance Report Income for the year was £2,965,010. Expenditure was £2,806,194. The largest single expenditure was on staff costs (£2,045,592) which accounts for over two thirds of all expenditure.
Yet again this year we have put considerable effort into local fundraising both from grant giving charitable trusts & through fundraising events. There are several aspects of our work that depend entirely on local fundraising.
The principal funding sources during the year have been:
We are grateful to Nicola Clargo, Debbie Backhouse, Christine Hallett Funding contracts with the NHS & & our Auditors (Wenn Townsend) Oxfordshire County Council for the for their help in managing our Oxfordshire Wellbeing service & the finances. Transitional Supported Accommodation services Contract with Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust for the provision of the TalkingSpace psychological therapy service Rent (primarily rent related to Mind Housing Projects) Grants from Charitable Trusts, Department of Health, & the Big Lottery Fund Donations, bequests & money raised through fundraising events. Oxfordshire Mind’s Finance & Resources Manager, Debbie Backhouse, joined us this year 8
Money Matters Where does the money come from?
Where does the money go to?
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Our Awards We’ve worked hard to achieve new quality awards, & keep ones we already held. These awards recognise the excellence of our services, & help people feel confident in coming to us for support.
Short courses
Housing
Volunteering
Our Coping Skills courses are Ofsted inspected under our PCDL contract with Oxford Skills & Learning Service (OSLS) & are delivered within the RARPA Quality Framework for non accredited learning.
During 2012/13 our supported Our Volunteer Programme is in the housing service was reviewed process of applying for Investing in under the Supporting People QAF & Volunteers (IiV) accreditation. achieved Level B for assessment & support planning & Level A for Our whole organisation service user involvement. We completed our thrice-yearly review for the Charity Commission Benefits Quality Mark & the Mind Quality Our Benefits Advice Service Standard. At the end of the process continues to meet the standards we were awarded level 3 - the required for the Advice Quality highest quality level. Standard Mark.
Information Our Information Service holds the “Information Standard” kitemark the independent certification scheme commissioned by NHS England. 10
With many thanks to our supporters in 2012/13 Our work this year would not have been possible without the kind support of our funders, friends & donors. So here’s an enormous thank you to the following people, trusts, companies, churches & other organisations who have supported Oxfordshire Mind from April 2012 to March 2013. Abingdon & Witney College A & M Meats Agilent Technologies Ltd Asda Supermarket BBC Radio Oxford Big Lottery Advice Programme Brickwork Lizards Band Brightwell Vineyard Caron Trust Chinnor & Princes Risborough Railway Comic Relief Co-op Supermarkets Department of Health
Our intrepid Sudetes Trekkers from 2013: (Rear Left to Right) Ray Dilworth, Paul Bobby, Shaun Wing, Peter Cooper, Bernie Harris, Pete Adams, Tom Wattleworth. (Middle Left to Right) Val Smith, Pauline Harrison, Maureen Bobby, Jill May, Ann Bourton, Val Lee, Juliana Gyura, Susan Relf, Nicky Clargo. (Front kneeling) Karen Whelan, Tamsin Jewell, Andrea Gibson.
Five Star Chauffeurs Harmony InSpires Jack FM Jive John Wiley & Sons Liz Evans Beauty M & Co M G Cars Mansell Motors Mini Plant Oxford National Mind Oxfam Oxford Brookes University Oxford Citizens Housing Association
Oxford City Council Oxford Ixion Motorcycle Club Oxford Journal & Courier Newspapers Oxford Mail & Times Oxford Nepalese Society Oxford Playhouse Oxford Quakers Oxford Stagecoach Arts Drama Group Oxford United Football Club Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust 11
Many thanks to you all! Oxfordshire County Council Oxfordshire Mental Health Matters Oxfordshire NHS Primary Care Trust Pye Charity Settlement Pendon Indoor Model Village Ran Kan Kan Band Raw Diva Street Dancers Rebellyon Belly Dancers Response Restore Rosie’s Tearooms Ruskin College Sainsbury’s Supermarkets Shred Band South Oxfordshire Housing Association Sovereign Housing Association St Edburg’s Church Stagecoach Theatre Art Dance Groups Stone Family Foundation Swindlestock Band Tesco Supermarkets Thames Ceilings The Bullingdon The Cary Arms Hotel The Fox The Masons’ Arms The Mighty Cadillacs
The Old Swan The Parish Church Of St Michael The Punter Pub Oxford The Randolph Hotel The Skepitcs The White Hart The Wine Vaults The Witneys Four Pillars Hotel T W Fitness Unipart University of Warwick Waitrose Supermarkets Wantage Parish Church West Oxford Academy of Performing Arts Witney Parish Wives Group Witney RFC Wolfson College
Trek team 2013: Nicky Clargo Shaun Wing Bernie Harris Simon Cooper Raymond Dilworth Tom Wattleworth Peter Adams Karen Whelan Jill May Val Lee Val Smith Andrea Gibson Paul Bobby Maureen Bobby
Susan Relf Tamsin Jewell Pauline Harrison Juliana Gyura Ann Bourton
Marathons / Runs: Cerys Stuart-Buttle Ben Howard Michael Marty
Mind Talks: Kath Thomson
We are also very grateful for donations made in the memory of loved ones:
Valerie June Johnson Artemis NikilakisMouchas Terence Frederick Duncan Keith Jon Green Samuel John Isitt Graham Peter Gordon Suzanne Marie Gaby Vera Morgan David Michael May Paul Philip White Winifred Simms Avril Elizabeth Sharich 12
I liked the chance to talk to other people who have had or are having a similar experience. Participant in a ‘Managing Stress’ course
[Volunteering] gave me a great insight into the mental health profession generally. I developed an understanding of the importance of listening. The experience was extremely worthwhile. Words from one of our volunteers.
We don't always have answers & knowing that a) you provide answers & b) there are other services out there is fantastic. Feedback to the Information Line
[The course] was excellent, well organised, well structured, enjoyable & relaxing. Participant in a ‘Managing Stress’ course
I very much value benefits advice from people with specific & sometimes personal knowledge of mental health issues. I feel I am understood from the start & I didn’t feel like I have to work hard to justify my situation. Feedback to the Benefits for Better Mental Health Team
We're Mind, the mental health charity. We're here to make sure anyone with a mental health problem has somewhere to turn for advice and support. We’re part of the network of Mind associations working for better mental health across England and Wales. We’ve been working in Oxfordshire since 1967.
Contact us Oxfordshire Mind 2 Kings Meadow, Osney Mead Oxford OX2 0DP 01865 263730 office@oxfordshire-mind.org.uk Twitter: @oxfordshiremind Facebook: oxfordshiremind www.oxfordshire-mind.org.uk
Charity number 261476. Reg. company number 4343625
With many thanks to our funders