Become a Volunteer Today
Volunteering is a great way to become more involved in your local community and to gain valuable skills.
Meet our team
Andy Gilbert
Chief Executive
Andy is a committed Christian and brings with him significant management experience from Church, Charity and Business backgrounds. This includes running the operations of a major UK church, running a nationwide charity initiative helping the UK church become more Dementia Friendly, including working with Lambeth Palace and Church House. He was also Managing Director of a limited company which delivered corporate team building to large organisation including Google, Spotify, VW/Audi. Before this he worked with Barclays Bank where he was involved in managing strategic development and uk wide programmes.
Bev McKay
Deputy Manager
Bev McKay takes on this new role, having previously worked for WLP for six months as a support worker, providing one to one counselling for women struggling with a variety of complex needs including mental health issues, domestic abuse, financial hardship or dealing with the aftermath of addictions.
A qualified Mental Health and Wellbeing trainer consultant and coach, Bev brings a huge amount of knowledge on mental health to this appointment. She is also trained in counselling and a tutor in mental health and wellbeing awareness courses.
As a recognised Mental Health First Aider, Bev has worked within many organisations to increase mental health awareness and to equip staff to deal with sensitive conversations. She is passionate about reducing stigma and supporting organisations to deal effectively with mental health challenges and developing wellbeing champions within organisations.
Bev complements her skills in well-being, mental health awareness and stress management with her experience as a qualified nurse, having begun her career in nursing. Her medical background enables her to contextualise her coaching with the impacts that poor mental health, stress and excessive pressure has on the body.
The mother from Christchurch is also a practising Christian and says: “My decision to take on this new position at the Water Lily Project is very much governed by a clear vision that God has been directing me to use my skills in a valuable role. To be part of this Christian-based charity allows me to fulfil this calling and use my professional skills to support, nurture and help people grow, develop and remain safe. I’m passionate about equipping women to live healthy, independent lives and finding strategies to support them to reach their full potential. I’m excited to support our beneficiaries to grow and develop, enhancing their mental and physical well-being.”
Bev is available Monday and Friday
10am – 4pm
Megan Holdcroft
Lead Support Worker
Megan is a devout Christian with a passion for helping others. She began volunteering at The Water Lily Project in November 2018 then became a Support Worker in January 2019.
Megan’s working background includes several years as a nursery nurse, over 11 years supporting pupils at a local junior school as a HLTA, a few years as a move on coach in refuges and outreach services for both men and women who were victims of domestic abuse/violence, she also has experience of working with young care leavers in assisted living settings.
Megan has a vast knowledge and qualifications in supporting victims of Domestic Abuse/ Violence, Mental health problems, housing issues, the benefit system, family court proceedings etc. Megan has gained a level 3 in first aid and levels 2 and 3 in mental health conditions and disorders
Emma Whitney
Cafe and Hospitality Manager
Emma heads up our community café and brings a wealth of experience in the hospitality industry to this role.
Emma and her husband managed their own restaurant in Spain for four years as well as running a busy hotel in Boscombe. Emma has also worked at a café in Christchurch before joining Water Lily Project.
Emma is a self-confessed ‘foodie’ and loves to cook and bake. She also loves to go out for meals and sample food she just wouldn’t cook at home.
Emma heard about Water Lily Project after it supported two friends who were victims of domestic abuse.
Supporting and Empowering Vulnerable Women in Christchurch and the Surrounding Areas
Women helped
1:1 Sessions
People fed
Helping Vulnerable Women in Christchurch and the Surrounding Areas
We are so grateful to all of the volunteers, local churches and individuals who have raised funds for us this year.
Particular thanks goes to the Big Lottery @TNLCommunityFund who awarded us a grant of £10,000, Lloyd’s Bank Foundation who awarded us an Enable grant of £15,000, Dorset Community Foundation who awarded us £2,300 with the help of Comic Relief funding. Co-op who awarded us a grant of £2,145.87 to redecorate our IT Suite.
We could not do, what we do, without your help. THANK YOU!
Every act of kindness helps…
Get in Touch. Get Involved.
If you would like to find out more about The Waterlily Project and/or get involved, please contact us and we will be happy to chat at any time.