The Mental Health Foundation aims to ensure that high ethical standards are maintained throughout its work as a charity. Our supporters and the public at large expect charities to operate in an ethical manner and this is integral to developing high levels of trust and demonstrating our integrity. Our actions and behaviour affect both the organisation and the people we support.
The NCVO sets out four principles in their paper on Charity Ethical Principles, which the Foundation seeks to follow.
- Beneficiaries first
- Integrity
- Openness
- Right to be safe
Purpose and aims
We have chosen not to have a lengthy Ethical Policy which details everything we do but to have a high-level framework which sets the expectation of meeting ethical standards in all we do across partnerships, investments, procurement, funding and all other relevant activities. By linking in all the individual policies and approaches we have we can ensure that our ethical approach is as consistent as possible across all of our operations.
Scope
This policy applies to all that we do as an organisation: service delivery, procurement decisions, any form of partnership, acceptance of funding (grants, donations, legacies, in kind support), investments or any contractual relationship. In addition, it covers how we act internally.
Ethical Framework
The following policies and principles are integral to how we operate in an ethical manner as a Foundation in our everyday activities:
Ensuring our activities are aligned with our Vision, Mission and Strategic Aims.
Our actions are embedded in the four core organisational values which we are and aim to be (Making a Difference, Side by Side, Determined Pioneers, Walking our Talk).
We expect those we work with, as a minimum, to fully comply with their responsibilities under the Equality Act. However, realistically we expect them to go beyond this and to share our commitment to drive Equality, Diversity and Inclusion across the work they do. Our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion policy and Dignity at Work policy detail how the Foundation looks to implement this.
We recognise the Climate Crisis that is facing the world and via our Environmental Policy we seek to establish our commitment to becoming a greener organisation and protect the environment via our actions and where possible those we interact with.
Provision of a safe and supportive acceptable working environment highlights our commitment to safeguarding our people fully in respect of their health, safety and welfare at work and our responsibilities to members of the public and contractors.
Our Ethics and Gift Acceptance policy sets out a clear process for accepting and in some cases refusing donations and ensures that we work in accordance with charity law and regulatory requirements, we adhere to the Fundraising Regulator’s Code of Fundraising Practice. In addition, our Fundraising Commitment details our commitment to our supporters.
Our Procurement Policy sets out the framework for procurement decisions, informed by the overarching ethical framework set out in this policy. It embeds the principal that all employees think about the impact of their purchasing decisions (e.g. achieving best value for money whilst ensuring equality, diversity and inclusion, good environmental standards and sustainability) and not just assume that the cheapest and/or most convenient is best when that might run counter to the values of the Foundation. This includes ensuring our suppliers pay the minimum wage and comply with the Modern Slavery Act.
In addition to seeking to ensure our supply chain pays the national minimum wage/London Living Wage as applicable, we ensure that all our employees are paid at or above the London Living Wage regardless of where they live. We have signed up to the Living Wage Foundation to demonstrate and be held accountable for this. https://www.livingwage.org.uk/accredited-living-wage-employers
We ensure that any funds MHF invests are done with an environmental, social and governance lens over them and that they are not contrary to our Vision and Mission.
Across our research, policy and advocacy, campaigning, participation, lived experience engagement, marketing and content activities, we are committed to working in ways that are ethical, evidence-informed, inclusive and aligned with our values. We will seek to build partnerships with organisations and individuals who share our commitment to equality, diversity, inclusion, human rights and social justice, undertaking appropriate due diligence where required. We will meaningfully involve people with lived experience in shaping, delivering and evaluating our work, ensuring their voices are heard, valued and fairly represented. We will be transparent about how information and data are collected, used and shared, and will comply with all relevant legal and regulatory requirements. Through all our external activities, we aim to communicate accurately, respectfully and responsibly, protecting the dignity, rights and wellbeing of those we engage with while working to achieve positive change for mental health.
We work to ensure that we use data in accordance with the Data Protection Act 2018 (UK GDPR) and all staff are adequately trained and aware of their responsibilities.
Our Employee Code of Conduct highlights the standards excepted of our staff including Honesty, Integrity and the Avoidance of Conflicts of Interest.
The Foundation’s Anti-Bribery policy clearly states the zero-tolerance attitude to bribery and our compliance with the Bribery Act 2010.
The Foundation will ensure that any use of AI will be in line with this framework, our values and all applicable laws.
Monitoring and review of this policy
Monitoring of the policy
The Foundation will regularly monitor the implementation of this policy jointly with key stakeholders every three years or sooner in the event of changes in related legislation or internal factors.
This policy was approved in October 2024. Last updated October 2026.