Wellspring (formerly Mikveh Project UK)
Charity accounts
For the year ending 31[st] March 2021 Charity Number: 1183111
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The Wellspring (Charity number: 1183111) For the year ended 31 March 2021 Reference and administrative information
On 3[rd] March 2021 the request to change the name of the charity from the Mikveh Project UK to Wellspring was approved by the charity commission.
Charity number 1183111 (Charitable Incorporated Organisation) Country of registration England & Wales Registered office 13 Woodberry Way, London, N12 OHE
Trustees
Trustees who served during the year and up to the date of this report were as follows:
Rabbi Miriam Berger Ms Lynette Chazen Mrs Sam Clifford (Chair) Ms Antoinette Fox Appointed 3[rd] March 2021 Ms Sue Pearlman Appointed 10[th] November 2020 Ms Juliet Simmons Appointed 3[rd] March 2021 Mr Jonathan Synett Ms Danielle Trainis Appointed 3[rd] March 2021 Consultant Ms Rachel Heilbron Bankers CAF Bank 25 Kings Hill Ave, Kings Hill, West Malling ME19 4JQ
The charity has not yet appointed solicitors and is not required to have financial review or audit.
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Wellspring (Charity number: 1183111)
For the year ended 31 March 2021
Notes to the Financial Statements
The trustees present their report and the audited financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2021.
Objectives and activities
Our aim is to create a physical space where the wellbeing of all people, across Jewish communities, is prioritised and the powerful ritual of mikveh can be used by all people to mark meaningful moments in their lives.
Wellspring will provide an innovative, purpose-built centre which addresses our mental, physical and spiritual health in one space. It will incorporate therapy rooms and communal spaces built around two mikveh pools - natural waters associated with renewal, transition and healing.
It will be a welcoming, inclusive and non-judgmental Jewish space for people of all genders, from all faiths and people of non-religious beliefs. It will offer a preventative and therapeutic approach to good mental health, promoting resilience building and incorporating Jewish rituals such as immersion into active wellbeing and recovery.
The objects of the CIO are:
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To advance the Jewish religion by providing and maintaining a mikveh (ritual bath) and associated services.
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To advance the Jewish faith in accordance with the Statement of Belief appearing in the Schedule and to fulfil such other purposes which are exclusively charitable according to the law of England and Wales and are connected with the charitable work of the charity
The Covid-19 Pandemic declared in Spring 2020 slowed down our activities as most of our trustees and volunteers were involved with frontline community or medical services. However, the team continued to work on creating educational resources and building relationships. Activities resumed in autumn 2020 with a focus on the new brand/name, developing the business model and creating a plan for the required feasibility study. All planned events moved online, which had benefits that we were able to have speakers and attendees from outside of London and worldwide.
Since the onset of the pandemic people have experienced exceptional levels of stress and anxiety, and the pandemic will leave a deep and lasting scare on the mental health of millions in the UK. Therefore, our work feels even more important and urgent. One of the after effects has been to normalise discourse about mental health and wellbeing.
In this second year of operations we:
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Rebranded as the Wellspring Project with a launch event attended by more than 250 people worldwide with speakers Anita Diamant, Jonny Benjamin MBE and Rabba Dina Brawer
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Ran virtual events with the Director of Adas Israel in Washington, Rabbis Neil Janes, Eryn London, Debbie Young-Somers and Consultant Psychologist Stuart Linke
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Delivered educational sessions for the Rising Tide network, Menstrual Hygiene day, professional networks, Limmud, the Board of Deputies, Synagogues, JW3
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Wellspring (Charity number: 1183111) For the year ended 31 March 2021 Notes to the Financial Statements
Structure, governance and management
The charity is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) governed by a Constitution (registered on 25th April 2019 as the Mikveh Project UK). On 3rd March 2021 the name of the charity was changed to Wellspring. It is mostly known as the Wellspring Project.
Apart from the founding trustees, every trustee must be appointed for a term of three years by a resolution passed at a properly convened meeting of the charity trustees. In selecting individuals for appointment as charity trustees, the charity trustees must have regard to the skills, knowledge and experience needed for the effective administration of the CIO.
The charity does not yet have paid staff; it uses the services of a consultant.
Wellspring is governed by a Board of Trustees, with a minimum membership of three. At the end of March 2021 there were eight trustees. All trustees give their time voluntarily and receive no benefits from the charity. No trustees reclaimed expenses from the charity.
Any person who is willing to act as a trustee, and who would not be disqualified from acting as one, may be appointed to be a trustee by a decision of the Board of Trustees.
In the year to 31st March 2021, the Board met four times. In addition, trustees provided significant ongoing support to the organisation throughout the year.
Public benefit
The trustees confirm that they have complied with the duty in section 17 of the Charities Act 2011 to have due regard to the public benefit guidance, published by the Commission, in determining the activities undertaken by the charity. The trustees are satisfied that the aims and objectives of the charity, and the activities reported on above to achieve the aims, meet these principles.
Fundraising
Wellspring’s fundraising was led by the trustees. There was no material expenditure incurred to raise income.
We have ensured we are in line with the GDPR data protection regulations and all other relevant codes of conduct. We do not pressure supporters to make gifts and respect decisions to stop giving. We received no complaints about our fundraising practices.
Risk Management
Key risks in this development stage include maintaining focus on the agreed mission, securing income and maintaining adequate cashflow. The Coronavirus pandemic affected the availability of volunteers, which has delayed some activities and caused a setback in fundraising. However, as operating costs were low and no capital projects have been committed to, the effects of our ongoing work have been minimal.
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Wellspring (Charity number: 1183111) For the year ended 31 March 2021
Notes to the Financial Statements
Financial review
In this development stage, Wellspring’s reserves policy states that it will aim to ensure that it has between three- and six-months’ worth of working capital to cover its operational expenses. This policy will be reviewed annually.
Wellspring started the year with a balance of £11,610. In the period to 31st March 2021, Wellspring received a further £1,187 (all unrestricted). Total spending amounted to £13,397. Wellspring had an end of year balance of £2,282
Breakdown of expenditure is shown in on page 5.
Declaration
The trustees would like to thank the volunteers who generously gave their time during the year, and all the people who have supported the Project.
The trustees’ annual report has been approved by the trustees on 27[th] June 2021 and signed on their behalf by
Ms Sam Clifford
Chair of the Board of Trustees
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Wellspring (Charity number: 1183111)
For the year ended 31 March 2021
Notes to the Financial Statements
| Receipts and payments accounts for the period 1/4/2020 to 31/3/2021 | Receipts and payments accounts for the period 1/4/2020 to 31/3/2021 | Receipts and payments accounts for the period 1/4/2020 to 31/3/2021 | Receipts and payments accounts for the period 1/4/2020 to 31/3/2021 | Receipts and payments accounts for the period 1/4/2020 to 31/3/2021 | CC16a | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Section A: Receipts and payments | ||||||
| Unrestricted funds (£) |
Restricted funds (£) |
Total funds (£) | ||||
| Receipts | ||||||
| Voluntary Donations | 1,887 | - | 1,887 | |||
| Total receipts | 1,887 | - | 1,887 | |||
| Payments | ||||||
| Professional services | 10,100 | - | 10,100 | |||
| Fundraising support | 647 | - | 647 | |||
| Misc costs | 468 | - | 468 | |||
| Total payments | 11,215 | - | 11,215 | |||
| Net of receipts/(payments) | -9,328 | - | -9,328 | |||
| Cash funds last year end | 11,610 | 11,610 | ||||
| Cash funds this year end | 2,282 | 2,282 | ||||
| Section B: Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period | ||||||
| Unrestricted funds (£) |
Restricted funds (£) | |||||
| B1: Cash funds | 2,282 | - | ||||
| Total cash funds | 2,282 | - |
The financial statement was approved and authorised for issues by the Board of Trustees on 27[th] June 2021 and signed on its behalf by:
Ms Sam Clifford
Rabbi Miriam Berger
Chair of the Board of Trustees
Founding Trustee
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