Charities sex scandal: 120 workers accused
OXFAM faces losing out on taxpayers’ cash as it emerged more than 120 charity workers were accused of sex abuse in the past year.
The UK’S International Development Secretary Penny Mordaunt blasted Oxfam’s alleged cover-up of its aid workers’ use of prostitutes.
She will today meet its bosses to demand answers, but warned: “If they don’t hand over all the information they have, I can’t work with them any more.” Her department handed the charity €36million last year. Oxfam yesterday unveiled measures for preventing and handling sex abuse cases.
Yet it also emerged Oxfam did not tell agencies about accused staff taking new jobs. Haiti director Roland van Hauwermeiren quit in 2011 after using sex workers, but then joined Action Against Hunger.
Oxfam said it has not given positive references for those sacked. It was also claimed yesterday that women believed to be prostitutes visited the Oxfam team in Chad, Central Africa, in 2006.
And allegations against more than 120 workers from leading charities fuelled fears that paedophiles are targeting overseas aid organisations. The figures, collated by charities, cover sexual harassment in Britain and abroad.
Sherrie recalls filming a scene with guest stars Hale and Pace in the upcoming series when two fans were heard whispering through the hedge: ‘Is that Sherrie Hewson? That’s Sherrie Hewson, isn’t it!’
She says: “Hale and Pace nearly fell off their sunbeds laughing. But Dame Joan Collins has been my favourite guest star. She’s so much fun.”
Sherrie has played Solana hotel manageress Joyce Temple-savage since series five in 2012.
As Benidorm marks the 10th anniversary with a new series and special this month, she admits that there are plenty of similarities between her and Joyce.
She says: “A lot of her is me, in the sense that I’m silly and camp and outrageous, and I’m a frustrated old bag.
“I’ve been on my own for a very long time. Joyce is like that.”
Mum of one and grandmother of two Sherrie We all have similarities to our characters – [Benidorm writer] Derren Litten says I’m slowly morphing into Kenneth.
My most outrageous fan moment was when a lady asked me for a selfie by the pool and she was topless. I wouldn’t do it unless she covered herself up, so she got a shopping bag and put her boobs in the bag and her arms through the holes. So funny. We have some great guest stars - I was so excited when Bananarama came on, that was my favourite scene. spends five months of the year filming in Benidorm. The show pulled her back into acting during a 15-year stint as a presenter on Loose Women.
She says: “A part like this rarely comes along and I was very lucky that I met the writer Derren Litten who decided I fitted the bill. This role is the joy of my life.
“It’s such an incredible family. I think the show’s longevity is down to the most wonderful British humour, like