A year-long investigation by the Fundraising Regulator has revealed that Depher Community Plumbing and Heating CIC, led by James Anderson, violated several fundraising rules. The organization was established to provide free plumbing services to elderly and vulnerable individuals in Burnley and gained significant attention during the UK’s cost-of-living crisis, reportedly raising over £2 million in donations. However, concerns emerged following the dissemination of social media posts that portrayed misleading narratives, prompting multiple complaints.
The Fundraising Regulator identified 13 potential breaches and confirmed that Depher had committed eight violations related to the code of fundraising practice. Issues specifically highlighted included the use of misleading information, insufficient evidence to support claims, and inappropriate use of imagery of vulnerable individuals to solicit donations. Additionally, the publication of posts mentioning sensitive topics like suicidal feelings was deemed controversial, emphasizing a lack of care in addressing case studies.
Prior investigations by BBC News uncovered instances of false representation, including the recycling of images and videos of the same individuals across multiple appeals. Notably, one elderly woman, identified as Joyce, who had passed away in 2020, was featured in several posts inappropriately claiming her story. Her daughter has since called for law enforcement to investigate Anderson and criticized the organization’s tactics in using her mother’s image.
Anderson has publicly rejected some of the allegations but acknowledged past mistakes. Despite his earlier acclaim, which included receiving thanks from high-profile figures, his recognition was revoked following the investigation. After its fallout, Depher ceased operations under its original name and is now functioning as Community Elderly and Disabled Support CIC. The Fundraising Regulator has made recommendations for future operations, while the Office of the CIC Regulator remains attentive to further complaints or breaches.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cly0ww5zz50o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss