FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Money and Mental Health promotes from within for new Director

The independent campaigning charity committed to breaking the link between financial difficulty and mental health problems, has today appointed Helen Undy as its new Director. 

Money and Mental Health conducts research and works in partnership with those providing services and those using them to develop practical policy solutions. Helen has spent the last two years as its Head of External Affairs. Her appointment follows an extensive search triggered by the departure of Polly Mackenzie to Demos in January.

Interim Director, Simon Crine, will hand over at the end of July. Helen will step up her leadership of current projects including the development of the UK’s first set of mental health accessibility standards – to help willing firms, help their customers. Money and Mental Health will begin recruiting to the External Affairs team shortly. 

Martin Lewis, Founder and Chair of the Money and Mental Health Policy Institute said:

 “I’m absolutely delighted that our new Director is going to be the brilliant Helen Undy. After a hard fought process, with many applicants, the trustees felt that Helen’s passion and knowledge was unbeatable. She’s also great to work with – I know that as she’s been with the institute as its Head of External Affairs from its birth two years ago (before that she’s had senior campaigning experience at both Relate and Mind). 

“As a relatively new charity, the Money and Mental Health Policy Institute has already had a huge impact and is recognised as the authoritative expert on these issues by politicians, regulators and business. Helen has been at the core of making that happen, and is a key driving forces behind a range of high profile successes including getting the government to agree to provide Recovery Space so those in mental health crisis cannot be hassled by creditors. I’m very excited to see what she can achieve leading our exceptionally talented team.”

Interim Director Simon Crine commented:

“I am delighted that Helen will be my successor as the next Director of Money and Mental Health. She will lead a very talented team delivering important and practical policy solutions in partnership with service providers and government. Her promotion is great news for The Money and Mental Health Policy Institute and for people struggling with mental health and debt issues, whom Helen will continue to champion.”

Helen Undy, the incoming Director said: 

“Over the last two years it’s been an honour to be part of the growth of this exciting organisation, to work with such a committed and talented team, and to be trusted by the thousands of people who have shared their personal experiences with us. We’ve made great progress, but with three million people in the UK living with both financial difficulty and mental health problems, there’s a long way to go. I’m delighted to be leading the Money and Mental Health Policy Institute on the next step in this journey and excited about the change we can achieve together.

“On behalf of everyone at Money and Mental Health I want to say a sincere thank you to Simon for his leadership and support – first as maternity cover and then as Interim Director over the past six months.”

ENDS

Notes to Editors

• The Money and Mental Health Policy Institute was set up by Martin Lewis in spring 2016, registered charity number 1166493.
• Money and Mental Health is an independent charity, committed to breaking the link between financial difficulty and mental health problems. It conducts research, develops practical policy solutions and works in partnership with both those providing services and those using them to find what really works.
• Helen Undy was previously Head of External Affairs for Money and Mental Health, having held policy and campaigning roles at Mind and Relate before that. She holds a degree in Social and Political Science from Cambridge University.
• Martin Lewis OBE, Money Saving Expert, is an award-winning campaigning broadcaster, newspaper columnist and author. He founded MoneySavingExpert.com in 2003 for £100 and remains its full-time Editor-in- Chief. It is now the UK’s biggest money site, with more than 14 million monthly users. Martin has his own prime-time ITV programme – The Martin Lewis Money Show – and is resident expert on This Morning, Good Morning Britain and BBC Radio 5 Live’s Consumer Panel, among others.