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Innercycle

4 months ago

One Firm, One Day – PwC fundraising by the Leeds Cycling Team for Innercycle is underway! You can sponsor riders now as they set out on Friday. #MHAW2018 #PwCFoundation #OFOD ...

Innercycle

4 months ago

Dear Supporters,

This is a lengthy update to share good news and also difficult news.

It is thanks to your amazing support and well-wishes that we're determined to continue behind the scenes with every effort made to further this charity for our intended beneficiaries.

I am pleased to announce, firstly, that PricewaterhouseCoopers Leeds office (Twitter: @PwCLeedsNE) are undertaking a charity ride for us on Friday 18th May. We're thrilled to have been selected as part of the PwC One Firm One Day initiative #OFOD (@PwCLeedsOFOD) during Mental Health Awareness Week #MHAW2018, with 30+ riders so far committed, personal fundraiser pages feeding into the PwC Foundation: mydonate.bt.com/charities/pwcfoundation. Huge thanks to Gareth at PwC (Twitter: @barber_gareth) for coordinating 30-mile, 45-mile and 72-mile glorious Yorkshire routes. Thanks, too, to our Trustees who are joining the rides!

It is with a heavy heart, though, and some irony in the timing that I also share update on the indefinite suspension of operational activities due to circumstances completely beyond our control – an inexplicable seven month delay by the Charity Commission in processing our application for CIO registration of Innercycle.

To date, our work has been almost entirely self-funded, by my life partner, Shirley and myself, Michael Martin. I have not had income since November 2016. In working tirelessly to bring this to fruition (bearing in mind that founders may not draw salary in a charity), we must look to serving the best interests of both charity and self-reliance. Shirley and I have committed personal savings of tens of thousands of pounds into the charity thus far, putting in place the necessary infrastructure, systems and personnel for activities last year and in readiness for projects months in the planning.

Having agonised week after week while our savings dwindle, toll taken on our own wellbeing, we have little choice now but to render things dormant for the time being.

Naturally, we welcome all support of the likes of the PwC charity ride to help raise awareness and that can provide the vital resources to regroup and push on.

In the meantime, collectively, the Board and founders, cannot praise our wonderful team and supporters highly enough for their unstinting efforts to date, particularly our volunteers and especially our Cycle Lead, Ellie Jane Forgan.

Huge appreciation is also extended to our amazing partner organisations and individuals in the cycling community, as well as the NCS, our roster of forty accredited therapists and others who have spread the word, offering support services free gratis or on preferential terms.

We fully acknowledge and support the need for diligence and robust governance in accordance with Commission guidelines and relevant legislation. The Commission has limited resources and high profile cases reported in recent months have no doubt impinged on capacity.

Nevertheless, delay has extended well past the Commission's anticipated timeline following introduction of an automated system expected to clear a 2-3 month backlog in applications as reported in Third Sector magazine. The Board took legal advice and responded to myriad questions, weeks without reply, no apology to date, an indefinite ‘in due course’ the only response to query of timescale...now beyond seven months.

Despite half of all charities being unregistered, the absence of ‘a number’ severely impacts fundraising efforts. I cannot adequately convey how frustrating it is to have so much support (now including the PwC Leeds ride and also ‘in principle’ support from other major organisations agreed), yet we’re all seemingly thwarted in awaiting the same thing. Let us hope that it can be prioritised with matters resolved urgently.

Sadly and reluctantly, though, a consequence is that Ellie must now consider her own alternatives. I would like to ask if work may be offered to her and I can assure interest parties that Ellie’s reference will be of the highest calibre. We wish to re-hire Ellie and we’re eternally grateful for her efforts in positioning cycle-side provision. In the meantime, we wish her well.

Sometimes in life, a step back, forced unexpectedly or knowingly taken, is necessary to move forward. We remain believers in the cause, to help people find purpose, meaning and direction through our much-needed unique provision.

We’ll still be contactable, site and social channels up, aiming to be better positioned, projects resurrected ‘in due course’ via funding and sponsor opportunities, so that we can continue together to progress our work.

On behalf of the Trustees, our Chair and our incredible team, I thank you once again for your understanding, patience and ongoing support.

Humbly yours in appreciation,

Michael Martin
Chief Executive
Chikama Trust, operator of Innercycle ...