Mind retail board member to receive OBE

We are delighted that Mind Retail Board member and mental health campaigner Derek Harris will be awarded an OBE in the Queen’s New Year Honours List.

Mind Retail Managing Director Andrew Vale said:

“We are incredibly proud that Derek has been recognised with an OBE to mark his excellent voluntary work in our retail division. Under Derek’s stewardship, we’ve grow from 111 Mind charity shops to 160, and our unrestricted income from £1.6m to £3.8m. It has also meant significantly more money has been raised for local Minds. During this time, the retail arm of Mind has raised more than £18m of net unrestricted income for the charity.

"This money has gone towards increasing Mind’s ability to campaign and respond to emerging trends in society, while also funding important projects such as the Mind Infoline, our online community Elefriends, and much more. The expansion of our retail chain has allowed Mind to increase its local exposure and become the country’s leading mental health charity. Mind Retail employs 450 paid staff and 2,500 volunteers in its shops.

“Derek’s objectivity, humbleness and humanity have ensured he was able to help steer the organisation in the right direction and allow us to grow despite turbulent economic times. He has always impressed me with his dedication and devotion to the causes he is supporting, and is able to bring not just financial experience to the table, but also a keen grasp of the human side of our business. On shop visits, he always engaged with volunteers and staff on an equal footing. Derek is one of the few people I have known who is able to express his understanding of a business in both numbers and words, in a way that is accessible to everyone.”

Before joining the Mind Retail Board in 2011, Derek chaired the Retail Board for Age Concern England, overseeing a significant growth in their Retail income.

Derek is a former executive at Iceland supermarkets and Brake Brothers.