ABOUT OPEN MINDS
Who we are as a charity, and why we do what we do
OPEN MINDS Counselling Service Ltd. is a Charity and a Not-For-Profit Social Enterprise limited by guarantee.
Our Registered Office is 28 Christchurch Road, Doncaster, DN1 2QL
Company Number: 06695828,
Charity Number: 1155119
Our main premises are at Haywake House, 28 Christchurch Road, Doncaster, DN1 2QL
We began providing services in 2006, becoming full time from Haywake House in May 2008 and since then have become popular throughout Doncaster.
All of our income is invested towards keeping the service going.
To protect all of our clients and beneficiaries we have special insurances and systems in place to monitor both the finances and our general activities.
Our client work is confidential unless someone is in danger
The Parable of the Starfish
Once upon a time there was a Philosopher who would walk along the beach each morning, thinking about how to help the world.
One day, as he was walking along the shore, he looked down the beach and saw a figure moving back and forth, rhythmically dancing to the day.
This gave him great pleasure, so he began to walk faster to catch up. As he got closer, he saw that it was a young woman and the young woman wasn't
dancing, but instead she was reaching down to the shore, picking up something and very gently throwing it into the ocean.
When he got closer he called out, 'Good morning! What are you doing?'
The young woman looked up and replied with simple joy; 'Throwing starfish in the ocean.'
The man looked puzzled and said: 'I guess I should have asked, why are you throwing starfish in the ocean?'
The young woman replied 'The sun is up and the tide is going out. And if I don't throw them in they'll die.'
'But, don't you realize that there are miles and miles of beach and starfish all along it.
You can't possibly make a difference!' said the man.
The young woman listened politely. She then bent down, picked up another starfish and threw it gently into the sea past the breaking waves and said with a smile..
'... but I made a difference to that one'.
MISSION AND HISTORY
Open Minds Counselling Service have a simple vision and a simple mission;
We cannot save all of the ‘starfish’ but we make a difference to each and every one we can. We work to prevent exclusion from therapeutic services by prioritising accessibility and client-centredness in our services.
We do this by providing one to one and group counselling, and personal development training and volunteering opportunities to adults and children aged 8 and over who would otherwise be excluded from such services.
Our clients are among the most vulnerable and disadvantaged people in the Doncaster borough and we can say with confidence, and a smile in our hearts, that we do make a difference.
Please help us to continue to do so.
The downloadable PDFs below show 2017's and 2018's audits into our work.
Our policies are here:
update 17th June 2025
The majority of our team was made redundant on 1st June 2025.
Please bear with us as those of us left behind are trying to do a bit of everything while being paid for far fewer hours.
We have limited capacity for free adult counselling, provided by volunteers.
Unfortunately our children's service is limited to clients who can pay £30. This is still massively subsidised compared to private counselling.
We know the closure of our free children's counselling is a devastating loss for Doncaster, and we are holding onto the fact that since 2007 we have supported over 4,000 adults, and more than 1,700 children through counselling support, with 96% reporting improved mental health and wellbeing.
We are desperately trying to save our children’s counselling service from closing altogether.
If you can make a donation, no matter how small, please do www.gofundme.com/manage/save-our-childrens-counselling-service
Thank you - Helen Mason, Managing Director