About us
Westminster Mind has been working in the City of Westminster since 1971 to make a practical and positive difference to people living locally who have been affected by mental illness.
Formerly known as Westminster Association for Mental Health, the organisation was set up by local people including those whose lives had been affected by mental illness, whether through direct experience or because of someone close to them. They saw that there was a shortage of good services in the community to support people coming out of the long stay hospitals: services where they would be safe, where there would be people who understood what was going on for them, and where they could connect with others and develop social networks and skills. Services such as the Drop In and the supported housing service were a direct response to these demands.
As a small, stand alone organisation, with people giving their time and money to help provide services and support, we have always been able to respond quickly to the demands of service users and to provide services in a flexible and creative way. Other services followed such as counseling, befriending and services to help people rediscover their skills and confidence in work place and other settings. There was good support from Westminster City Council. We now have a great choice of vital, much valued and constantly developing services that support people with their recovery from mental health issues.
Most services are funded by Westminster City Council and NHS Westminster. However, people can also purchase services themselves through Individual Budgets or the Direct Payments scheme.
Involving the people who use our services, and giving them a voice, has always been at the heart of what we do, as has working with other organisations, communities and groups within the City of Westminster, in order to play our part in meeting the needs of local people and challenging stigma and discrimination in all its forms.
Westminster Mind is now the biggest, independent provider of services in Westminster for people with mental health issues. The organisation is committed to working closely with users of mental health services, and commissioners of services, to develop services which meet the recovery needs of local people and achieve significant, positive outcomes for them.
Westminster Mind is an independent charity affiliated to the national charity, Mind, and meets their national quality standards. The organisation is governed by voluntary trustees who oversee the strategic direction and the running of the charity, and we employ experienced staff who work to high professional standards.
Westminster Mind is a registered charity, Charity No.292708
It is also registered as a company limited by guarantee, Company No. 1796928
