Our GOVERNANCE

The Charity was established with four trustees and currently has five trustees at the time of writing.  All trustees have a connection with Laura Sylvester-Dodson, our founder, and bring different skills and experience to the Charity.  The trustees have in common a belief in the objectives of the Charity and the aim to succeed in meeting those aims.

 

Kevin sylvester - interim chair

Kevin is a Certified Geologist having worked for over 40 years in the oil and gas industry.  Originally from New York and transferred to the UK in 1980, he has worked for international oil companies holding senior positions with technical and managerial responsibilities: for the last 20 years he has been a Co-Founder and Director of a successful UK-based consultancy company servicing clients worldwide.  He is also an “Independent Expert Witness” having participated in international arbitration tribunals in the settlement of multi-million pound awards.  Outside work he has played and managed a senior sports team to a national championship and was an events manager for two national sporting contests held in a major London stadium.  For the past 10 years he has been the sponsorship coordinator for the Farnham Youth Choir and more recently an appointed Trustee of that choir’s charity.   Kevin is the father of Laura, the Founder of the Mind Body EDS® Charity.

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Frankii Oosthuizen

Following a degree in Human and Equine Sport Science and a veterinary nursing position at the renowned Liphook Equine Hospital, Frankii then moved into the charity sector working in events for a successful children's charity as well as regularly taking part in fundraising events for various charities herself, including the London Marathon. She currently works in the sporting industry focusing on e-commerce and merchandising for a Premier League football Club.

Jessica Kohn

Jessica has a background in Psychology and currently works as an Education and Events Manager in the luxury cosmetics sector. With strong skills in strategic planning, public speaking, and community engagement, she wants to help foster educational initiatives that resonate with diverse audiences dealing with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS). As a passionate advocate for individuals affected by EDS, Jessica is driven to make meaningful change in this community.

Martin Coleman, ND, DO, DPO

Martin has spent his career in healthcare. He trained as a nurse at St. Bartholomew’s Hospital, London. He specialised in Intensive and Cardiac care, as well as Occupational Health nursing. Subsequently he retrained as an Osteopath, keeping himself working directly with patients. Martin is inspired by the bravery and strength of the Sylvester Family, and wants to support Mind Body EDS charity to help the charity to flourish.

Dr Rochelle Sylvester, BMBS, BMedSc, BSc (Pharmacology), PGCert (HBE)

Rochelle is currently a GP registrar in the Guy’s & St Thomas’ Vocational Training Scheme in London and has been a resident doctor in the NHS for four years. Her interests lie in polypharmacy, dermatology, and connective tissue disorders (of course), and she hopes to integrate these within her future practice. She has a strong passion for education, having completed a teaching fellowship year in Clinical Pharmacology (2022-23), being a member of the Prescribing Safety Assessment (PSA) review board, and participating regularly in teaching medical students. Rochelle aims to help spread the awareness of Ehlers-Danlos Syndromes in the medical community through sharing the journey of her twin sister, Laura (Founder of Mind Body EDS), where the topic is so infrequently taught and recognised.

 

How does the Charity conduct its business?

Prior to the granting of Charity status the designated trustees met twice formally to determine the actions needed to meet the Charity’s objectives.  Since registration, the Trustees have committed to meeting at least quarterly.

It is the intention of the Charity to follow and meet the good practice expectations of the Charity Commission on all aspects of the Charity’s governance including meeting arrangements; the appointment and removal of trustees; and the keeping of records and filing of accounts and statutory returns.  The Charity has sought out accounting and audit support and is intending to use, at the end of the first accounting period, an independent firm of accountants to advise on accounting returns and provide an independent input to the Charity’s financial affairs.

To support the day to day running of the Charity’s management and financial affairs all trustees will adhere to the standing orders and standing financial instructions of the Charity which cover, by way of example:

  • The operation of bank accounts on behalf of the Charity

  • The keeping of records by the Charity

  • The authority of trustees and nominated individuals to enter into contractual arrangements on behalf of the trustees

  • The range of activities into which the Charity may enter to support achieving the Charity’s objectives

  • The notification, attendance at, and conduct of meetings

These instructions are formalised in a policy document entitled ‘Financial Policies’ which was approved by Trustees in its meeting on 3rd May 2018.

The Charity also approved a policy entitled ‘Financial Assistance Policy’ on 3rd May 2018 which explains the eligibility criteria and process for applying to Mind Body EDS® for a financial assistance grant.