SOUND MINDS
Sound Minds is a user led social enterprise applying the arts to improve the lives of people living with mental ill health through: music, filmmaking, theatre and the visual arts accredited courses in Popular Music and Filmmaking A booking agency for performances and workshops communicating about mental health a peer to peer hospital Ward Visiting service
Objects
To promote the preservation of mental health and to assist in relieving and rehabilitating persons suffering from mental disorder or conditions of emotional or mental distress in London (all the London Boroughs) and neighbouring counties through the provision of opportunities for education, training, musical and cultural activities, and other opportunities in relieving and rehabilitating such persons.
Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts
The accounts state that unrestricted reserves increased to £226,840, exceeding the charity's stated policy target of three to six months of annual expenditure. The charity reported a net income of £67,372 and received an unqualified audit opinion, indicating no material uncertainties regarding its ability to continue as a going concern.
What the accounts disclose
“The Management Committee has a policy whereby unrestricted funds not committed or invested (Free Reserves) are held equivalent to three to six months of annual expenditure, to allow time for the charity to find alternative sources of funding in the event of an unanticipated reduction in income.” — page 7
Policies the charity declares
- Bullying and harassment policy and procedures
- Complaints handling
- Complaints policy and procedures
- Conflicting interests
- Financial reserves policy and procedures
- Internal charity financial controls policy and procedures
- Internal risk management policy and procedures
- Investment
- Paying staff
- Risk management
- Safeguarding policy and procedures
- Safeguarding vulnerable beneficiaries
- Serious incident reporting policy and procedures
- Trustee conflicts of interest policy and procedures
- Trustee expenses policy and procedures
- Volunteer management
From the charity’s annual return (Part A, self-declared)
Self-declared on the annual return for the financial year ending 31/03/2025
- Volunteers: 22
- Government income: £247,500 — contracts £126,324 (3), grants £121,176 (4); 61% of the £403,004 total gross income on the same return
Self-declared on the annual return for the financial year ending 31/03/2024
- Volunteers: 22
Self-declared on the annual return for the financial year ending 31/03/2023
- Volunteers: 23
- Government income: £18,399 — contracts £4,984 (1), grants £13,415 (2); 8% of the £219,069 total gross income on the same return
Trustees
- SHEBA FORBESchair
- Christopher Lam
- David Evans
- Devon Lambert Marston
- Elsie Williams
- Jewel Leanne Boothe
- Leopold Benenfield Christopher KING
- Lucy Honor Alphonse
- Oliver Richard Nesbit
- SARAH RACKHAM
Income and spending
| Financial year end | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
| 31/03/2025 | £403k | £336k |
| 31/03/2024 | £296k | £240k |
| 31/03/2023 | £219k | £225k |
| 31/03/2022 | £156k | £155k |
| 31/03/2021 | £142k | £137k |
Common questions
Is SOUND MINDS financially healthy?
Per its FY2025 accounts: The accounts state that unrestricted reserves increased to £226,840, exceeding the charity's stated policy target of three to six months of annual expenditure. The charity reported a net income of £67,372 and received an unqualified audit opinion, indicating no material uncertainties regarding its ability to continue as a going concern. Its FY2025 accounts were audited by Green & Peter (UK) Limited.
Who funds SOUND MINDS?
Funders whose own accounts filings name SOUND MINDS as a grant recipient include THE FORRESTER FAMILY TRUST.
Known funders
| Funder | Year | Amount | Purpose (as stated by the funder) |
|---|---|---|---|
| THE FORRESTER FAMILY TRUST | FY2024 | £5k | Smaller Grants |
Government & lottery funding
| Funder | Date | Amount | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| The National Lottery Community Fund | 10/04/2025 | £263k | Time for change |
| Postcode Lottery | 29/09/2023 | £15k | Project Funding |
| UK government | 13/10/2022 | £93k | National Portfolio Organisations |
| UK government | 13/10/2022 | £93k | National Portfolio Organisations |
| Greater London Authority | 29/07/2022 | £6k | Sound Minds |
| City Bridge Foundation | 26/03/2020 | £63k | Grant to Sound Minds |
| City Bridge Foundation | 27/11/2014 | £72k | Grant to Sound Minds |
| The National Lottery Heritage Fund | 17/10/2012 | £5k | "Hear me now" |
| The National Lottery Community Fund | 13/09/2012 | £5k | Sound Minds General ICT Classes |
| The National Lottery Community Fund | 22/10/2007 | £8k | Sound Minds Film Group |
| The National Lottery Community Fund | 23/05/2005 | £3k | Departmental |
Funders of similar charities
| Funder | Similar charities funded | Amount to them |
|---|---|---|
| THE NISBET TRUST | 2 | £55k |
| SKIPTON BUILDING SOCIETY CHARITABLE FOUNDATION | 2 | £2k |
| THE NATIONAL FOUNDATION FOR YOUTH MUSIC | 1 | £300k |
| MIND (THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR MENTAL HEALTH) | 1 | £292k |
| DEMENTIA RESEARCH UK | 1 | £50k |
| THE JOSEPH AND LILIAN SULLY FOUNDATION | 1 | £40k |
| QUARTET COMMUNITY FOUNDATION | 1 | £13k |
| THE ARCHER TRUST | 1 | £11k |
Charities like this
Side by side with its peers
| Charity | Income | Top pay band | Staff >£60k | Reserves vs policy | Fundraising cost | Going concern |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SOUND MINDS | £403k | — | 0 | above | — | no doubt |
| KINDRED MINDS | £55k | — | — | below | — | no doubt |
| SOUND SENSE | £55k | Under £60,000 | 0 | unclear | — | no doubt |
| MANY MINDS | £108k | — | 0 | above | — | no doubt |
| MUSIC FOR MY MIND | £111k | — | 0 | unclear | — | no doubt |
| SOUNDCASTLE LTD | £326k | — | 0 | within | — | no doubt |