David Cameron’s flagship Big Society Network is being investigated by the Charity Commission over allegations that it misused government funding and made inappropriate payments to its directors – including a Tory donor.
The organisation, which was launched by the Prime Minister in 2010, was given at least £2.5 million of National Lottery funding and public-sector grants despite having no record of charitable activity.
The Independent has learnt that it has now been wound up, having used much of the money on projects that came nowhere near delivering on their promised objectives.
A project called Get In – to tackle childhood obesity through sport. In April 2012 it was awarded a grant of £299,800 from the Cabinet Office despite officials concluding it was unlikely to meet its stated objectives. They were told to change their selection criteria and approve the grant. The project was never even launched.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/exclusive-camerons-big-society-in-tatters-as-charity-watchdog-launches-investigation-into-claims-of-government-funding-misuse-9629848.html
Meanwhile Aileen Campbell has announced that £10 million will be made available to the Third Sector Early Intervention Fund for 2015-16 to support voluntary groups with projects to tackle poverty, promote parenting skills and encourage family support for learning.
http://news.scotland.gov.uk/News/-15-million-to-support-children-and-families-dac.aspx
The Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator has proposed that the annual accounts of all Scottish charities should be published on the regulator’s website.
Unlike the Charity Commission, the OSCR does not make accounts submitted to it available online, but individual charities are legally obliged to provide their latest accounts to the public on request.
http://www.thirdsector.co.uk/oscr-proposes-publish-annual-accounts-scottish-charities-its-website/finance/article/1305250
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