Hospital rethinks charity scandal cash

GREAT Ormond Street Hospital has announced a rethink of its decision to hand back £530,000 in donations from the Presidents Club charity after claims of sexual harassment at a men-only fundraising dinner.

GOSH did not receive any donations from the event held at the Dorchester Hotel in London on January 18, at which young waitresses were told to wear skimpy black outfits and high heels and were ogled and fondled by some guests. But it previously received money from Presidents Club events between 2009 and 2016.

After the scandal was exposed last month the London children’s hospital announced that it would return all the money from the Presidents Club Charitable Trust “in view of their reported methods of fundraising” and “the wholly unacceptable nature of the event”.

But yesterday a spokesperson for GOSH’s charity said in a statement it was in discussions with the Charity Commission about keeping the donations and its trustees would make a formal decision next month.

The reason for the change of heart is due to anger from other donors who disagreed with the decision and threatened to stop their own giving if GOSH did not reconsider keeping the Presidents Club funds.

“Guiding all our thinking is our aim to maximise the support to the hospital and the families it cares for. We can confirm that we are in discussions with the Charity Commission and are scheduled to meet them later this week,” GOSH said.

“Following this meeting and taking into account the latest developments with the Presidents Club Charitable Trust and feedback from our supporters, we will consider our position at our March Trustee meeting.”