Mind in West Essex

What Mind in West Essex does

Mind in West Essex is an independent registered charity (Charity Number 1091154) affiliated to the national Mind federation, providing community-based mental health services across the West Essex catchment covering the Uttlesford, Harlow, and Epping Forest districts. Headquartered in Great Dunmow with additional sites in Harlow (Mind Sanctuary) and Saffron Walden, the organisation delivers its services through a team of more than 90 paid staff and 125 volunteers. Its service portfolio spans professional counselling (individual, couples, and low-cost at £20–£65 per session), bereavement support, crisis alternatives (Sanctuary 4pm–11pm and Night Owls 5pm–10:30pm), peer support and befriending, community activity groups, and an innovative Virtual Reality Mindfulness-Based Intervention delivered via a partnership with Tend.

A core contracted activity is the Children and Young People's Mental Health Support Teams (MHST) programme, in which the organisation delivers low-intensity CBT-based early intervention services across more than 80 schools in the three districts, supported by Primary Care Network (PCN) mental health coaches. The Workplace Wellbeing service targets West Essex businesses with mental health training, employee counselling subscriptions, corporate talks, and workplace audits, and a Training Academy (mentalhealthtraining.org.uk) offers external e-learning courses. Technology infrastructure is a WordPress/WooCommerce website with Cloudflare, Google Analytics, Microsoft Clarity, and Meta Pixel, plus GDPR-compliant cookie consent management.

Revenue is generated through a diversified mix of NHS and local authority commissioning (MHST, crisis services, PCN coaching), fee-for-service counselling, corporate workplace subscriptions, training academy fees, room hire (£15/hour), donations and fundraising schemes (EasyFundraising, Essex Lotto, Give as You Live), merchandise (including a Keith Flint charity single), and grants. The organisation holds the Mind Quality Mark and Cyber Essentials certification, is a Disability Confident Employer and Mindful Employer signatory, and is governed by a board of trustees chaired by Richard Crone with Alison Wilson serving as CEO.

Name

Mind in West Essex

Legal name

Mind in West Essex

Website

https://mindinwestessex.org.uk

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Mind in West Essex is a registered charity affiliated to national Mind, delivering community-based mental health services — including counselling, crisis support, MHST school programmes across 80+ schools, workplace wellbeing, and training — to residents of Uttlesford, Harlow, and Epping Forest districts in England.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Mental Health Services

NAICS

Offices of Mental Health Practitioners (except Physicians) (621330), Outpatient Mental Health and Substance Abuse Centers (621420)

SIC

Services-Nursing & Personal Care Facilities (8050)

akta.pro primary industry

Guided Meditation Instruction (1:1 & Group) (HSADAJAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Mind-Body Wellness Coaching (Holistic/Integrative) (HSADAGAG), Mindfulness-Based Coaching & Training (MBSR/MBCT-style) (HSADAJAB), Mindfulness, Meditation & Stress Management Education (EDAAAHAD)

Keywords

• Mental health services
• Community counselling
• Crisis support
• Workplace wellbeing
• Peer support groups

Headquarters

HQ city

Great Dunmow

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Counselling and Therapeutic Services: Fee-for-service counselling sessions including individual counselling at £50, couples counselling at £65, low-cost counselling at £20, and bereavement services. Revenue from individuals and corporate employee counselling programmes.
2. Training Academy: Mental health training courses including Mental Health First Aid training and self-help courses offered through mentalhealthtraining.org.uk
3. Workplace Wellbeing Services: Corporate mental health training, employee counselling, corporate talks, and workplace audits for businesses. Session rate of £50 per employee for counselling.
4. Room Hire: Hire of training and meeting rooms in Harlow and Dunmow facilities at £15 per hour
5. Donations and Fundraising: Individual donations, corporate fundraising, event fundraising, and shopping schemes (EasyFundraising, Essex Lotto, Give as you Live)
6. Charitable Grants and Commissioning: Government and NHS commissioning for MHST services in schools, crisis support services, and community mental health programmes
7. Merchandise and Products: Sale of charity merchandise including hoodies, t-shirts, and the Keith Flint charity single 'The Fire is Out'

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Mind in West Essex is an independent local mental health charity affiliated to the national Mind federation, delivering a comprehensive range of mental health services across West Essex (Uttlesford, Harlow, Epping Forest). Core offerings include professional counselling, crisis support (Sanctuary and Night Owls), peer support, children and young people MHST services in schools, bereavement support, workplace wellbeing programmes for businesses, community activity groups, befriending, online support groups, and mental health training through the Training Academy.

Product overview

Mind in West Essex operates as a mental health charity offering a diverse portfolio of services rather than a unified software product. The organization provides community-based mental health support through community activity groups, peer support services, and befriending programs. Its therapeutic offerings include professional counselling, low-cost counselling, and an innovative Virtual Reality Mindfulness program using Tend's VR-MBI technology. Crisis support is delivered through Sanctuary and Night Owls services. The organization also operates a Training Academy for mental health education and provides dedicated Children and Young People Mental Health Support Teams (MHST) in schools across West Essex. Workplace Wellbeing services target corporate clients with training and counselling offerings. The portfolio also includes practical services such as room hire facilities and fundraising programs like the Mental Elf Fun Run.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Counselling Service

Quantifiable outcome

• 673 young people aged 4-18 received 1:1 wellbeing support (Jan 2025)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• TendcoreTechnology or IntegrationTend provides Virtual Reality Mindfulness-Based Intervention (VR-MBI) programme to Mind in West Essex. The partnership brings Tend's innovative immersive VR experience to local Mind locations across Essex, designed to help users feel calmer and manage anxious thoughts through an eight-week mindfulness course.
• Schools in West EssexcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner80+ schools across Harlow, Epping Forest and Uttlesford districts partnered with MHST programme. Schools include primary, secondary and colleges where Mind in West Essex delivers Children and Young People's Mental Health Support Teams services.
• British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAll therapists are accredited by BACP. Low-cost counselling is provided by student and volunteer counsellors working within BACP Framework for Counselling Professions and towards BACP accreditation status.
• Keith Flint Estate / Adrian WeaverminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership to sell 'The Fire is Out' charity single with proceeds benefiting Mind in West Essex. Adrian Weaver, a close friend of Keith Flint, wrote lyrics turned into charity single featuring Marcella Detroit.
• National MindcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAffiliated to national charity Mind meaning Mind in West Essex is part of a network of over 120 other local Mind charities across England and Wales. Shares common values and principles with national Mind.
• Essex MapminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEssex Map platform partnership for resource coordination and information sharing across Essex mental health services.
• Side by Side (Mind)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerOnline community platform provided by national Mind. Side by Side is a supportive online community where people can be themselves and connect with others who experience struggles.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Broad incumbents

• Richmond Fellowship: Provider of community mental health, supported housing, and employment services across the UK; comparable to Mind in West Essex's community services and person-centred support model.
• Mind (National): National umbrella charity for mental health in England and Wales; Mind in West Essex is one of its 120+ affiliated Local Minds. Mind sets the federation's quality standards (Mind Quality Mark), brand, and policy platform that the subject charity operates within.
• Turning Point: Social enterprise delivering mental health, substance use, and learning disability services in the UK. Comparable as a multi-service mental health provider with commissioned local authority and NHS contracts.
• Samaritans: UK-wide charity providing emotional support via a 24/7 helpline and branch network. Comparable to Mind in West Essex's Night Owls and Sanctuary crisis lines, though operating at national scale rather than local district focus.
• Rethink Mental Illness: National mental health charity offering community services, housing support, advocacy, and crisis alternatives. Overlaps with Mind in West Essex's peer support, community groups, and crisis-alternative positioning.
• Together for Mental Wellbeing: UK charity providing community-based mental health support, advocacy, and accommodation services. Comparable in service model (community-led mental health support, peer support, local delivery).
• Vita Health Group: Commissioned NHS Talking Therapies provider for West Essex and other regions. Directly comparable as the NHS-commissioned outpatient mental health provider alongside Mind in West Essex's counselling services.

Direct peers

• YoungMinds: UK charity focused on children and young people's mental health, particularly through schools and parent support — directly comparable to Mind in West Essex's MHST programme across 80+ schools.
• Anxiety UK: National charity providing anxiety-focused counselling, peer support, and self-help resources. Comparable to Mind in West Essex's individual counselling, online support groups, and anxiety-focused programming.
• Mind in Camden: Another Local Mind charity delivering counselling, crisis support, training, and community mental health services in a London borough. Closest comparable by service mix, governance structure, and federation affiliation.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/MindinWestEssex
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/west-essex-mind
• Instagraminstagram.com/mind_west_essex
• Xx.com/mind_west_essex

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles24 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Mind in West Essex