Karen Mellanby
About Karen Mellanby
Karen Mellanby serves as the Director of Networks and Communities at Mind, where she manages a £120 million network of 127 local Minds across England and Wales and leads initiatives to enhance mental health through sports engagement. With a background in social work and extensive experience in various leadership roles, she focuses on promoting inclusivity and reducing stigma related to mental health.
Current Role at Mind
Karen Mellanby serves as the Director of Networks and Communities at Mind, a position she has held since 2013. In this role, she manages a network of 127 local Minds across England and Wales, overseeing a budget of £120 million. Her responsibilities include leading initiatives that enhance mental health support and community engagement. She also spearheads a partnership with the English Football League aimed at improving mental health through sports. Additionally, she oversees the organization’s Equality Improvement work, which focuses on promoting inclusivity and diversity within Mind.
Previous Experience
Before her current role, Mellanby held various positions that contributed to her expertise in community services and mental health advocacy. She worked at Locality as Director of Programmes from 2011 to 2013, and served as Deputy Chief Executive at Action for Advocacy from 2006 to 2009. Her earlier roles include Head of Programmes at bassac and a Home Care Worker at Charnwood Borough Council. Additionally, she gained customer service experience at Loughborough Students Union from 1986 to 1988.
Education and Qualifications
Karen Mellanby has a strong educational background in social work and management. She studied at Northumbria University, earning a BA Joint Honours in English and History from 1990 to 1993. She later pursued further studies at Durham University, where she obtained an MA in Applied Social Studies from 1996 to 1998. Additionally, she achieved a Post Graduate Diploma in Social Work Practice Teaching from London South Bank University in 2001 and a Post Graduate Diploma in Management from Birkbeck, University of London in 2007.
Involvement in Mental Health Initiatives
Mellanby is actively involved in initiatives that address mental health stigma and promote awareness. She participates in the Time to Change movement, which aims to reduce stigma and discrimination associated with mental health issues. Under her leadership, Mind oversees a multi-million pound portfolio of community-based services and pilot projects focused on mental health prevention and improvement, contributing to the overall enhancement of mental health support in the community.