Wellspring is governed by a board of trustees. Currently, we have eight trustees who provide experience and expertise in a wide range of business and professional capacities. 

 

The current Trustees are:

 

• Revd Deborah Mallett (Chair)
  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 currently as Chair of Wellspring. In her spare time, Deborah loves singing with the City of Bristol Choir and going for long walks with her flat-coat retriever, Scout.

 

• Mr Rob Swift (Treasurer/Company Secretary)
  Rob is a retired accountant and has been a trustee for 6 years.

 

• Dr Mary Backhouse
  Mary has been involved with Wellspring since its foundation. She is a GP at Tyntesfield Medical Centre. Over the last 25 years, many of her patients have been greatly helped by having counselling at Wellspring.

 

• Dr Dave Cox
  Trustee responsible for Safeguarding, David is a GP and has been working in Backwell/Nailsea since 1989. He joined the Trust in 2014 and has great admiration for the wonderful counselling service this charity has provided for 25 years. He is a strong advocate for support for those with mental health issues and is proud to be a Wellspring Trustee. In his spare time, he sings and performs in a local folk band and writes contemporary ballads.

 

• 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. 

 

• Rachael Pipkin-Evans
  Rachael has worked as a senior manager in the civil service, and more recently has returned to her professional roots as a town planner. A Trustee since 2018, Rachael wanted to bring her skills and experience to Wellspring Counselling to support the important work the charity does to support the mental wellbeing of our local community. In her spare time, Rachael enjoys her garden, visiting historic houses and spending time with her family.

 

• Neil Wylie
  Neil is involved in chaplaincy in Clevedon and Nailsea school where he supports students and delivers holistic activities for staff and students, as well delivering and supporting Christian Youth Work across parts of North Somerset which he has been doing over 10 years. He is a qualified youth worker and has a huge passion for getting all young people interested in skateboarding. He is married to Jen and they have three boys and one house rabbit.

 

• Isla Hobbs
  Isla joined as a trustee in 2019. She has many years of experience supporting young people in a secondary school setting, firstly as a teacher of languages and more recently as a student wellbeing adviser. Isla has seen students benefit from the wonderful, caring work Wellspring offers and is pleased to support the organisation. Isla is a keen walker and, since moving to Nailsea with her husband and three children, has enjoyed many walks and cycles from her front door (especially during lockdown!).