MERMAIDS

Registered charity 1160575 · accounts filings on the Charity Commission register

Latest income

£1.3m

Latest spending

£1.6m

Registered

2015

We have not yet analysed this charity’s accounts. Register data shown below.

Charity Commission inquiry

The Charity Commission opened an inquiry following public complaints and media coverage regarding the charity's services and alleged external ties, which was escalated to a statutory inquiry after an internal review highlighted cultural and operational concerns. The Commission found mismanagement in governance, culture, and trustee recruitment, but upheld no evidence of providing medical advice or holding inappropriate ties to the Tavistock Trust. The inquiry concluded with statutory advice issued to the trustees regarding website accuracy and future service controls, which the charity has acted upon.

“In September 2022, the Commission opened a regulatory compliance case into the charity after complaints were made by the public, and highlighted in the media.”

“The inquiry report makes a number of findings of mismanagement, including around trustees failing to: address internal issues around culture and inclusivity at the charity”

Per the Commission’s published report. Summary is automated; the official report is authoritative.

Structured financials (annual return, FY ending 31/03/2025)

Total income

£1.3m

Total spending

£1.6m

Cost of raising funds

£186k

Reserves (reported)

£0

Employees

Reported reserves equal ~0.0 months of spending — in the bottom quarter for charities its size (median 4.8 months; benchmarks).

Register events

Received assets from another charity (15/09/2016) — per the register’s event history; asset transfers typically record mergers or reorganisations.

Trustees

Kathryn Downschair
Corey Lynn Stoughton
Dr TONY CLIVE HOCKLEY
Hardeep Aiden
Matthew Maddocks
Ruth Chapple

Trustee list from the Charity Commission register (current, not historical).

Operates in: Northern Ireland · Scotland · Throughout England And Wales

Income and spending

Financial year end	Income	Spending
31/03/2025	£1.3m	£1.6m
31/03/2024	£1.2m	£1.9m
31/03/2023	£2.3m	£2.4m
31/03/2022	£1.9m	£1.8m
31/03/2021	£1.8m	£1.2m

Common questions

Who funds MERMAIDS?

Funders whose own accounts filings name MERMAIDS as a grant recipient include THE EVAN CORNISH FOUNDATION, THE WILLIE AND MABEL MORRIS CHARITABLE TRUST.

Known funders

Grants to this charity found in funders’ own accounts filings.

Funder	Year	Amount
THE EVAN CORNISH FOUNDATION	FY2022	£11k
THE WILLIE AND MABEL MORRIS CHARITABLE TRUST	FY2023	£300