Impact Report 2026

Find statistics, stories and videos to give you a flavour of the impact we have in our community and significant developments at our charity during 2025-26.

Welcome to West Sussex Mind’s Impact Report 2026. I’m one of the charity’s peer support volunteers and it’s a pleasure to introduce this report for an organisation that has been fundamental in shaping my own mental health journey.

There’s that saying: “You can’t pour from an empty cup”. The support that West Sussex Mind gave me as a service user allowed me to fill my cup and come to a place of recovery from which I’ve felt able to pour for others.

After experiencing a period of psychosis – and intense anxiety and depression – I was able to find support with West Sussex Mind and begin my recovery journey. I joined mental health discussion groups and workshops that gave me the tools and skills to understand and reflect on my mental health – and I found community by talking openly with other service users who had been through similar experiences.

Having completed the charity’s eight-week peer volunteer training course earlier this year, I’ve co-facilitated several mental health support groups and workshops in Midhurst and Littlehampton, which has been very rewarding. I’ve also started leading a neurodivergence support group for my area. None existed before, and it’s been a long-time personal goal that West Sussex Mind has helped me to achieve, so it’s very exciting!

I’m so grateful to be able to work alongside service users in their recovery. It’s an amazing experience of mutual aid – I learn a great deal from the people I’m supporting and their growth shapes my understanding of my own challenges.

The course and volunteering have had a really positive impact on my life, helping me develop skills and come to new realisations about myself – that I can communicate well, lead constructively and work to include everybody.

It has been a real boost for my self-esteem – and the opportunities to learn things and serve others genuinely helps my mental health. I hope that you enjoy finding out more about West Sussex Mind’s fantastic work.

2025 was a crucial year for West Sussex Mind, in which we became the main sub-contractor for the new Pathfinder West Sussex contract for adult mental health support across the county, with our partner BHT Sussex as the lead provider. This five to seven-year contract with NHS Sussex was a major milestone for our organisation, helping to secure our financial future.

Watch a video about Staying Well Worthing, our out-of-hours walk-in crisis support service for anyone who feels at breaking point. The service provided 2,713 face-to-face interventions for people during 2025-26 (up 75% on 2024-25), improving their experience and reducing pressure on A&E and blue-light services.

One of our strategic aims for 2025-2030 is to reduce health inequalities in the communities we serve by making our services more inclusive and providing trauma-informed, culturally sensitive support.

We began some of this work during 2025-26 by launching our anti-racist action plan.

We also began working with Friends, Families and Travellers and conducted quantitative research into the barriers to mental health support for Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities.

In December 2025, we won the National Mind Excellence Award for Equality and Diversity and were Highly Commended in the Effective Services category.

This year, our training team was recognised nationally through the national Mind Enhanced Quality Award for Workplace Training.

Watch ITV News Meridian coverage of our Mental Elf Festive Fun Run 2025, which was started by Sally Gunnell OBE.

One of the aims of our strategy 2025-2030 is to diversify our sources of income. This will in part be realised through a new fundraising strategy.

Our charity relies on the generosity of our community through donations and fundraising to continue our life-changing work. Email Fundraising@westsussexmind.org to find out more about ways in which you can support our work.

Please donate if you are able. Thank you.