A few weeks ago, we found out that an unholy row had been triggered by Age Concern’s decision to shut down all of their Active Age centres.
Shortly after that, council leader Liam Smith gave this undertaking that they would not close, saying:
He said: "As leader of the council I will not allow any of those centres to be closed under my watch.Stirring stuff!
"I'm very disappointed with the way in which they have used older people as blanket shields to hide that they are a business.
"We will not lose any of those centres. This is a guarantee."
Age Concern said they had been hit by the credit crunch, could no longer cover rent and staff costs and that the council had reduced its subsidies.And now, in last week’s hardcopy edition of the ‘Post’ (not yet on the online edition) a news item on page three reads:
Cllr Denyer told the meeting that although Age Concern had told club members that the council did not pay for anything, it did in fact pay the rent for the facilities.
The Chief Executive of Barking and Dagenham Age Concern has been arrested on suspicion of fraud.And she won’t be alone:
Claire Ramm, 52, of Elm Avenue Upminster will appear at Barking Magistrates’ Court on July 22 accused of financial malpractice.
She will be joined by four other people who will also appear before magistrates on the same charges.Now, I thought fraud cases were notoriously longwinded investigations, so this arrest seems a little quick, assuming it all kicked off from the intended closure of the Active Age centres and Liam Smith's speech to the council.
One of these is the chief executive of The Disablement Association of Barking and Dagenham (DABD) charity...”
What has been going on...?
Glorious!
ReplyDeleteNo, we'll never find out what went on, but good stuff nonetheless, it's one of those disputes where you want both sides to lose (a bit like the Iran-Iraq War).
Forgive this OT promotion but please support Man in a Shed’s “Silly Week” next week. Logos are available at his site.
ReplyDeleteAbsence of old concern about this organisation scores highly on the gullibility scale.
ReplyDeleteI wonder is this YET another example of the inflating credit bubbles ability to hide fraud?
ReplyDelete"No, we'll never find out what went on..."
ReplyDeleteApparantly, they will be appearing at Snaresbrook Crown Court in September. So I'll keep my eyes open...
"...please support Man in a Shed’s “Silly Week” next week. Logos are available at his site."
Sure, why not, if I can figure out how to add the image? God knows, we could all do with a laugh!
"Absence of old concern about this organisation scores highly on the gullibility scale."
Charities still retain their status with many by virtue of the word itself. Hopefully, the news is getting out.
"I wonder is this YET another example of the inflating credit bubbles ability to hide fraud?"
Could well be, though it's hard to see how they could have done anything, unless either the council or the Charity Commission wasn't paying enough attention...
Now that Claire Ramm has been aquitted will you be removing your article about her? Nor sure how you feel that Age Concern Barking and Dagenham are a fake charity - they have been operating in the borough for over 60 years and done a lot of good work.
ReplyDeleteOh, A, I certainly won't be removing the article - it is, after all, a matter of record that she was arrested, albeit the charges were dismissed before they could be put to a jury.
ReplyDeleteI will certainly be doing a followup article on this story in the next few days, though.
After all, the council has just decided to chuck Age Concern Barking & Dagenham out on their ear as the main provider of elderly services in the borough, as you'll be able to read once the B&D Post online copy catches up with the hard copy received this morning...
Why don't you pathetic people find out the FACTS before you write stupid statements about things you know nothing about.
ReplyDeleteYou are playing with people's feelings here. People who have spent their careers providing services to many elderly people who do not appreciate it.
I would like to know how much charity work you have done in your lives. Write about people who are actually guilty of committing criminal acts and leave the innocent people alone you heartless morons.
If you think what you read in the papers is of the truth than you are even more stupid than you sound.
Goodness me, first 'A', now 'B'. Should I expect the rest of the alphabet?
ReplyDelete"You are playing with people's feelings here..."
Oh, boy. If you think I'm of the opinion that peoples feelings trump anything else, especially the facts, then you've come to the wrong blog...
"People who have spent their careers providing services to many elderly people who do not appreciate it. "
Those ungrateful elderly people, eh, B?
How dare they expect that a charity that rakes in their subscriptions to run an Active Age centre shouldn't spend it on growing their army of staff, or close up without warning or alternative?
Who do they think they are, eh?
"I would like to know how much charity work you have done in your lives."
Plenty. But I don't do it for a wage and promotion prospects.
"If you think what you read in the papers is of the truth..."
Oh, boy. Once again, have you ever come to the wrong blog...
But feel free to enlighten us. Or will 'C' be along to do that in due course?
I HAD BEEN WORKING FOR AGE CONCERN,MRS CLAIRE RAMM CAME DOWN TO MY CENTRE AND TOLD ALL OF MY CLUB MEMBERS THAT ALL THE CLUBS WHERE "SAFE "... LITTLE DID WE KNOW WHAT WAS REALLY ABOUT TO HAPPEN... SHE WAS ARRESTED FOR FRAUD... NOT SUPRISING SHE WAS HAVING MONEY AWAY FROM THE HAND THAT WAS FEEDING HER, HOW SHE GOT AWAY WITH NOT GOING TO PRISION WE SHALL NEVER KNOW , ONLY THAT SHE SHOULD HAVE BEEN GIVEN A OSCAR FOR HER PREFORMANCE. NOW LOOK WHAT HAS HAPPENED TWO MORE CENTRES ARE HAVING TO CLOSE...
ReplyDeleteHOPE THAT SHE CAN SLEEP AT NIGHT...
YOUR FAITHLY
A
I have today found out that Age Concern Barking & Dagenham have gone into Receivership - but hey watch this space they they think they can fool all of the people all of the time DON'T BE FOOLED they will raise their ugly head again under a new Charity name and registration
ReplyDelete