Charity faces funding shortfall

Mental health charity Young Minds may have to ditch its magazine and policy work in the face of an unexpected £100,000 funding shortfall.

Chief executive Barbara Herts wrote to supporters appealing for extra money in December after it became clear that major donors would not be renewing their funding.

The charity also believes a bid for section 64 funding from the Department of Health, which is reserved for the voluntary sector, will be unsuccessful.

A Young Minds spokeserson said the charity was still “a long way” from plugging the gap but said it was looking for alternative sources of funding.

Five members of staff are involved in the policy team and bi-monthly magazine.