Evidence browser
Explore the evidence
Loading the evidence…
The Association of Mental Health Providers’ evidence observatory
Evidence browser
Loading the evidence…
Evidence browser
35,993 claims
The Association encourages policymakers to consider the impact of regulation on smaller voluntary sector organizations.
Encourage policymakers to take note of the weight that regulation and commissioning requirements can impose on high quality smaller scale voluntary and community sector organisations, resulting in an inability to retain or support workforce, and a reduction in the quality of overall practice and support
Policy · Policy statement · From Voluntary Sector Mental Health Providers Forum — annual report and accounts, year ending 31 March 2025, page 11
The Association plans to produce guidelines and briefings for ministers and commissioners showcasing the added value of the voluntary and community sector.
Produce guidelines and briefings for ministers and commissioners that contain a more consistent and clarified understanding of outcomes and benefits of services provided, including cost analysis, properly showcasing the added value of the voluntary and community sector
Commissioning · Commitment statement · From Voluntary Sector Mental Health Providers Forum — annual report and accounts, year ending 31 March 2025, page 10
The Association's strategic communications efforts raised awareness of the VCSE mental health sector’s contributions and challenges.
The Association’s communications strategy was instrumental in raising awareness of the VCSE mental health sector’s contributions and challenges. By leveraging social media, blogs, webinars, and targeted campaigns, the Association amplified member voices and shaped public and political narratives around mental health care.
Strategic · Commitment statement · From Voluntary Sector Mental Health Providers Forum — annual report and accounts, year ending 31 March 2025, pages 9-10
The Association's Mental Health Social Care Research Incubator advanced the sector’s capacity for impactful, evidence-based practice.
Collaborative efforts with academic and policy partners also supported evidence -building initiatives, such as the Mental Health Social Care Research Incubator. This program has advanced the sector’s capacity for impactful, evidence-based practice, ensuring that VCSE contributions to mental health care are both visible and valued.
Research · Commitment statement · From Voluntary Sector Mental Health Providers Forum — annual report and accounts, year ending 31 March 2025, page 7
The Mental Health Data Observatory and GIS mapping tools provided critical insights into workforce trends, funding pressures, and service distribution.
These projects provided critical insights i nto workforce trends, funding pressures, and service distribution, enabling more informed policy advocacy and operational planning across the VCSE mental health sector. The GIS now offers an integrated, longitudinal view of VCSE mental health services, filterable by local authority, Integrated Care Board (ICB), and parliamentary constituency.
Metric · Observational claim · From Voluntary Sector Mental Health Providers Forum — annual report and accounts, year ending 31 March 2025, pages 7-8
The Association's workforce mapping project revealed high vacancy rates and recruitment gaps in specialist roles, impacting service delivery.
These findings informed policy recommendations and practical tools aimed at addressing workforce sustainability. The Workforce Mapping Tool revealed significant challenges, including: A workforce vacancy rate of 13,500 positions, with turnover rates exceeding 40% in some regions. Persistent recruitment gaps in specialist roles, such as occupational therapy and mental health nursing, totalling over 3,000 unfilled positions nationally.
Operational · Observational claim · From Voluntary Sector Mental Health Providers Forum — annual report and accounts, year ending 31 March 2025, page 7
The Association highlighted the VCSE sector's role in addressing complex mental health needs and called for consistent, equitable funding mechanisms.
This work emphasised the importance of neighbourhood-based health systems and called for consistent, equitable funding mechanisms to support their implementation.
Commissioning · Stakeholder position · From Voluntary Sector Mental Health Providers Forum — annual report and accounts, year ending 31 March 2025, page 7
The Association participated in initiatives to develop 24/7 Neighbourhood Mental Health Centres, promoting rights-based and person-centred care models.
Through its involvement in the development of 24/7 Neighbourhood Mental Health Centres, the Associ ation championed rights -based, person-centred care models that integrate housing, education, and employment support.
Service · Commitment statement · From Voluntary Sector Mental Health Providers Forum — annual report and accounts, year ending 31 March 2025, page 7
The Association advocated for the VCSE sector's unique needs during discussions on the Fair Pay Agreement for Social Care.
The Association also played a leading role in discussions surrounding the Fair Pay Agreement for Social Care, advocating for greater clarity on how proposed changes would impact the VCSE sector.
Commissioning · Stakeholder position · From Voluntary Sector Mental Health Providers Forum — annual report and accounts, year ending 31 March 2025, page 7
The Association ensured that VCSE perspectives were embedded in the NHS Ten-Year Health Plan for adult and child mental health services.
Engagement with the NHS Ten-Year Health Plan provided another avenue for influence, with the Association ensuring that VCSE perspectives were embedded in planning for both adult and child mental health services
Commissioning · Policy statement · From Voluntary Sector Mental Health Providers Forum — annual report and accounts, year ending 31 March 2025, page 6
The Association contributed detailed evidence and case studies to the House of Commons Health and Social Care Select Committee Inquiry.
Contributions to the House of Commons Health and Social Care Select Committee Inquiry into Community Mental Health Services were a key achievement, combining detailed evidence with real-world case studies
Commissioning · Policy statement · From Voluntary Sector Mental Health Providers Forum — annual report and accounts, year ending 31 March 2025, page 6
The Association provided input into the Casey-led Independent Commission on Adult Social Care, emphasizing community-based support systems.
A key achievement was the group’s input into the Casey -led Independent Commission on Adult Social Care, emphasising the unique value of community-based support systems
Commissioning · Policy statement · From Voluntary Sector Mental Health Providers Forum — annual report and accounts, year ending 31 March 2025, page 6
The Minoritised Communities’ Network explored issues such as racial solidarity and the intersection of poverty with mental health.
Minoritised Communities’ Network: Meeting monthly, this network explored nuanced issues such as racial solidarity, the adultification of minoritised children, and the intersection of poverty and mental health
Service · Policy statement · From Voluntary Sector Mental Health Providers Forum — annual report and accounts, year ending 31 March 2025, page 6
The Association prioritised engagement with its diverse membership to ensure activities were informed by member realities.
Throughout the reporting year from April 2024 to March 2025, the Association prioritised meaningful and consistent engagement with its diverse membership. This approach ensured that the Association’s activities were deeply informed by the realities faced by members
Operational · Policy statement · From Voluntary Sector Mental Health Providers Forum — annual report and accounts, year ending 31 March 2025, page 6
The Association supports its members by providing an authoritative voice to policymakers and facilitating access to key decision-making forums.
An authoritative, representative voice to policy makers, commissioners and other public funders; Access to key decision making forums, expertise, policy makers and influence
Commissioning · Policy statement · From Voluntary Sector Mental Health Providers Forum — annual report and accounts, year ending 31 March 2025, page 6
The Association's strategic priorities include valuing the voluntary and community sector, improving mental health practice, addressing inequalities, ensuring representation in policy, and increasing membership.
Overarching priorities: Valuing the Voluntary and Community Sector and influencing sector sustainability and growth; Improving practice in mental health; Addressing inequalities; Ensuring the VCSE mental health provider sector is represented in mental health policy; Increasing membership.
Strategic · Policy statement · From Voluntary Sector Mental Health Providers Forum — annual report and accounts, year ending 31 March 2025, page 5
The Association is the leading representative body for voluntary sector providers of mental health services.
Association of Mental Health Providers continues to be the leading representative body for voluntary sector providers of mental health services with members drawn from national, regional and locally based organisations operating across England.
Strategic · Policy statement · From Voluntary Sector Mental Health Providers Forum — annual report and accounts, year ending 31 March 2025, page 5
The charity's total funds at the beginning of November 2023 were £175,591.
At 1.11.22 £: 175,591
Financial · Metric statement · From Head Up Charity — annual report and accounts, year ending 31 October 2024, page 12
The charity had operating lease commitments totalling £8,605 as of the balance sheet date.
As at the balance sheet date the charity had operating lease commitments totalling £8,605.
Financial · Procedural statement · From Head Up Charity — annual report and accounts, year ending 31 October 2024, page 14
Net income/(expenditure) decreased from £53,000 in 2023 to a net expenditure of £1,749 in 2024.
<table><tr><td>NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE)</td><td>(1,749)</td><td>53,000</td><td>51,251</td></tr>
Financial · Metric statement · From Head Up Charity — annual report and accounts, year ending 31 October 2024, page 11