LifeSpring Ministries Fund Raising Policy Statement

As a registered charity LifeSpring Ministries undertakes fundraising to help meet our aims and objectives anywhere in the world. The majority of our fundraising goes towards the general aims and objectives of the charity however we will give clear information about specific project fundraising and how donations are used to fulfill the project. We will use any donations raised in this way for the designated purpose for which they were provided. Should a proposed target not be met or if the fundraising target is exceeded, a statement will be issued on www.lifespring.uk.com within 14 days of the fundraising end date seeking donor consent for transferring the gift to other LifeSpring Ministries specific projects or our general activities. We will take all steps necessary to comply with the law and sector fundraising practice standards. We keep full records of all donations made and our accounts are published annually in line with the Charity Commissions regulations. We are continuously improving our systems and procedures to manage risk and to provide reasonable assurance against material misstatement or loss. Please ensure you understand and agree with this information before donating. Further information can be found in our complaints procedure and fundraising policy on www.lifespring.uk.com. Thank you.

LifeSpring Ministries Fund Raising Complaints Policy

Donations made to the Enlarge The House Campaign

Introduction

We welcome all comments and feedback about the way we work. If you have a complaint or problem about us, we will aim to resolve it as quickly and efficiently as possible in a personal, fair and confidential way.

The aim of this procedure is to provide an efficient and robust fundraising complaints procedure in line with our ethical processes, the Charities Commission and the Fundraising Regulator.

LifeSpring Ministries is committed to excellent client service. We regard complaints as an opportunity to turn a negative experience for a client or service user into a positive one, as well as an opportunity to learn and improve.

The context for our fundraising complaints procedure is effective care for our donors, with standards and service level agreements where appropriate, and with regular dialogue and review of the service provided.

The purpose of our complaints handling procedures is to ensure that we:
– listen and are responsive to people who raise and issue with us
– respond swiftly
– are fair and consistent
– offer solutions and/or explanations
– offer complainants recourse to the Board of Directors as a final resolution
– ensure that staff who are mentioned in complaints receive support
– respect confidentiality
– record complaints consistently and monitor what we record
– use complaints positively as an opportunity for learning and improvement

In making a complaint we believe most people want:
– to be listened to;
– to have the problem accepted as important;
– to be offered a solution or explanation;
– to have their distress acknowledged and
– to be assured the same thing will be avoided, if possible, again.
– it is therefore essential that people raising a complaint are involved in discussing their concerns and in finding solutions.

How to Complain

Step 1 – Tell Us

You may send your complaint to us in any of the following ways:
Phone: 01902 313121 and ask for a senior member of staff.
Email: info@lifespring.uk.com
Post: Finance Dept. LifeSpring Ministries, 34 Clifton Street, Wolverhampton, WV3 0QT

Our aim is to ensure every complaint is acknowledged within 5 working days.

Step 2 – We will respond to your complaint

Your complaint will be fully investigated by a member of our Senior Staff.
The Outcome of our investigation will be provided within 10 working days starting from the date when the complaint was received. If it is not possible to give a full response within the timescale, we will contact you to provide an explanation and indication of when a full response can be expected (within a further 10 working days).

Step 3 – If you’re not happy with our response

If you are still not satisfied with our response, please let us know and this will be looked into by one of the senior leaders or a member of the LifeSpring Board, who will conduct a review and write to you clearly setting out the outcome of their review and the rationale for their decision.
An acknowledgement will be sent in writing (within 5 working days of receiving your response) and an expected timescale for the review to be carried out will be given.
The review will be completed within 25 working days of receiving your response. If an extension is necessary we will inform you of the reason and provide you with an update.

Step 4 – Taking your complaint outside of LifeSpring Ministries

In the event that you remain dissatisfied with the response you have received, you are entitled to take your complaint to the Fundraising Regulator by writing to the address below, by filling in their web form or by telephone: 0300 999 3407

The Fundraising Regulator
2nd Floor, CAN Mezzanine,
49-51 East Road
London
N1 6AH

LifeSpring Ministries are committed to abide by any decision they reach on complaints which are escalated to them.

Donations made to the Enlarge the House Campaign will be used for the purpose of redeveloping LifeSpring Church facilities in Wolverhampton.

By contributing financially, donors understand that:

  • the Enlarge the House Campaign has an unpredictable timetable subject to factors outside the control of LifeSpring Ministries such as planning consent, building control, feasibility of architect’s designs etc.

  • Enlarge the House campaign expenditure includes professional fees, feasibility studies and other costs in addition to actual building costs.

  • LifeSpring’s Board of Directors has the final authority in managing the campaign.