Wellspring is governed by a board of trustees. Currently, we have nine trustees who provide experience and expertise in a wide range of business and professional capacities. The current Trustees are:
Mr Rob Swift (Treasurer / Company Secretary)
Rob Swift has been a trustee for 8 years following his retirement as a chartered accountant, working predominantly in the Commercial sector (for an advertising agency and also consulting engineers), and finally in the public sector for Bristol City Council. He and his wife both grew up in North Somerset and have lived in Nailsea for 35 years; with 5 children and 10 grandchildren and, when time permits, he enjoys watching rugby and playing tennis.
Dr Mary Backhouse (Chair)
Mary has worked as a GP in Nailsea since 1990. She and her family live locally. She is involved in the local church and community and enjoys the role of Chair of Trustees for Wellspring.
Sue Jenner
Sue previously worked for 12 years as a Counsellor for Wellspring counselling before leaving in 2018 to run her own private counselling practice. She has many years of previous work as a social worker and probation officer. Sue’s experience of working with clients in Wellspring means that she really values the contributions made by the whole Wellspring team where clients are enabled to access ethical, affordable counselling and mental health support at times of need.
Isla Hobbs
Isla Hobbs works locally at Backwell School as a wellbeing and future plans mentor for sixth form students. She really enjoys supporting young people as they move into young adulthood.
She has 3 children of her own and they moved to Nailsea from Bristol 6 years ago. She loves being outdoors and is a keen hillwalker and really appreciates being able to have great walks around the local area.
Jono McGill
Jono is a strategic marketing and business development specialist with global experience in the education, legal and financial sectors. He has undergraduate and postgraduate qualifications in marketing and communications. He believes in a proactive and preventative approach to community mental health support as critical to the success of humanity. Outside of work you are likely to find him running in the mountains, reading or hanging out with his family.
Rachel Dugdale
Professionally, Rachel is a computer scientist specialising in artificial intelligence and machine learning. She moved to Nailsea during the pandemic, where she now lives with her husband, and can usually be found exploring the local footpaths.
Rachel Dunn
Rachel has worked as a volunteer receptionist for Wellspring since 2017, becoming a trustee in 2020. She lives in North Somerset and works as a Civil Servant.
Revd Deborah Mallett
Deborah is minister with pastoral charge of Nailsea and Backwell Methodist churches and has been a Wellspring trustee since 2017. She is passionate about promoting access to counselling and delighted to be serving as a Trustee. In her spare time, Deborah loves singing with the City of Bristol Choir and going for long walks with her flat-coat retriever, Scout.
Revd Astrid Tiesema-Samsom
Astrid arrived in the area in 2017 to take up the position of the Rector of Pill, Portbury & Easton-in-Gordano. With an international background, she has family living in three different countries which makes for a nice range of holiday destinations! She likes comedies and mysteries, either as books or as films, and enjoys days out in the country or visiting a city, and spending time with family and friends. Astrid says it is a joy to work with people and to see them flourish. As an honorary Chaplain to the Mission to Seafarers at Portbury Dock, she can be seen there from time to time as well.