Devon fundraiser Kevin Wright in new charity row
Street collectors from Exeter’s Kids Integrated Cancer Treatment (KICT) — set up by a former senior boss of Bobby’s Fund — have been fundraising in towns across the county, including Tiverton.
But local authorities claim the charity has failed to apply for legal street collection permits. And now police and officials at the Charity Commission have been alerted to the activities of KICT by a council licensing boss.
Marjory Parish, licensing manager at Mid Devon District Council, claims the organisation has “misled” the public and is trying to avoid the law.
She has complained about KICT to the charities governing body, which has admitted that it had concerns about the fund.
KICT is registered to an address in Pinhoe Road, Exeter, and is headed by Ian Weir.
Mr Weir was formerly involved in the running of the now disbanded Bobby’s Fund, which was investigated by the Gambling Commission.
Bobby’s Fund claimed to have raised millions to help young cancer sufferers after it was set up several years ago.
But as revealed in the Echo, it came under fire for not registering as a charity and after admissions from Mr Wright that he had attacked an employee.
And a separate fundraising campaign called Marni’s Appeal — set up by Bobby’s Fund — was at the centre of a criminal investigation in Nottingham.
Mr Wright previously denied having any links to the new charity KICT. But he has now told the Echo that he is a “parent advocate” for the organisation who makes donations to the fund.
Workers from KICT have recently carried out several street collections in Fore Street, Tiverton, despite being warned by officers from Mid Devon District Council that they were acting without the required licence.
Ms Parish said that when challenged, KICT collectors, who wore clothing emblazoned with the charity’s logo, said they were selling pamphlets for a periodical company owned by Mr Wright.
She said: “We first questioned the street collectors when we saw them in the town and knew that we didn’t have any bookings for a charity street collection.
“They had sealed collection buckets and were wearing sweatshirts with the KICT emblem on.
“They said they were selling periodicals for charity at £2 a copy and that all the funds raised goes to the charity KICT.
“My officer told them that they would still need a permit.
“They came again a couple of weeks later and said they were selling booklets for a company called Health Truth News owned by Kevin Wright.
“They said that the profits went to this company and that Mr Wright made donations to KICT.
“The collectors were all dressed in their charity clothes and they gave a clear impression they were carrying out street collections for charity but were, in fact, selling booklets for a company owned by Mr Wright.
“It is completely misleading to the public as they believe they are donating to a charity raising money for children with cancer.”
Ms Parish said she contacted police on one occasion requesting that the street collectors be moved on.
And she has confirmed she told Mr Wright that he appeared to be conducting an unlicensed street collection and that his fundraisers could be liable for arrest.
She added that she had contacted the Charity Commission with her concerns.
“I have spoken to the Charity Commission and they have told me that they are uncomfortable with the activities of KICT and that the charity is under observation,” she said.
Torbay Council has also revealed that KICT failed to apply for a permit for four days of fundraising carried out in September.
The charity revealed that it had raised £2,500 from collections in Paignton and Brixham.
And Ms Parish claims authorities outside Devon have raised concerns about the fundraising activities of KICT, including a council in Dorset.
Responding to the claims, Mr Wright said: “We have a commercial arrangement between Health Truth News and KICT.
“Health Truth News publishes information and chooses to give its profits to KICT — last month it donated £5,000 to KICT. I don’t take any wages from it and earn my money through various other business ventures that I’m involved with, including a chemical company and a motorcycle company.”
Mr Weir added: “These were not street collections, we were trading as news vendors which we can legally do without a permit.
“We are selling something for the money which people give to us — I completely disagree that we are misleading people.”
A spokeswoman for the Charity Commission said: “We have received a complaint suggesting an unauthorised street collection by Kids Integrated Cancer Treatment has taken place.
“We are currently considering these concerns to determine what, if any, role there may be for us.”
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