About Depression UK
Our Organisation
Depression UK (D-UK), we are a national Self Help Organisation that offers support to our several hundred members. Most suffer from depression; others may be past sufferers or care for those who have the illness.
Depression UK has operated within the UK since we were first founded in 1973, and we became first registered as a charity in 1979.
We are an independent not-for-profit organisation, run entirely by a team of up to ten volunteers who work from their own homes. We are completely self-funded and receive no grants, advertising income or any other external finances.
The Trustees ensure that Depression UK is run in accordance with its Constitution and Standing Orders, and meets the requirements of the Charities Commission. We hold a yearly Annual General Meeting and produce Annual Reports to provide updates and highlights which are produced and open to all members.
Our Volunteers
Most of our volunteers either have personal experience of depression or have seen how it ruins the lives of other people. A few simply wish to donate their time to help a good cause.
Our volunteers cover a wide range of different duties, including Chair, Membership Secretary, Treasurer, Social Media Manager, General Secretary, Newsletter Editor and Penfriend Co-Ordinator. We are a small team, assisted by other volunteers and members, and we do encourage all who wish to assist, to participate in the running of the organisation. Please do get in touch if you would like to learn more.
The Committee meets frequently throughout the year, and neither volunteers nor committee members are paid for their time but are reimbursed for out-of-pocket expenses.
Volunteers receive no pay, apart from their out-of-pocket expenses, (such as paper, stamps and fares to meetings), which are refunded.
A Brief History of Depression UK
A TV programme about Post Natal Depression, broadcast in about 1970, provoked so much discussion among a few concerned people that they decided to form a local depression group and meet up thereafter on a regular basis.
This group proved to be so successful that soon other local depression groups were formed. Eventually, these set up an association called “Depressives Anonymous”, mainly to exchange news and information.
Unfortunately, differences in policy arose and this association then split into two separate and independent associations, which have since gone their separate ways:
- One group took the name of “Depressives Associated”, and is now “Depression Alliance ”
- Our own organisation retained the name “Depressives Anonymous ”
- Later we were called “The Fellowship of Depressives Anonymous ” before changing to “Depression UK ” in 2007
“We promote mutual support between individuals affected by or at risk from depression.”