The National Trust and Commonwealth Heritage Forum have decided to keep millions of pounds granted to them by a foundation whose founder was recently accused of illegal activity including human trafficking.
Last October, the Sunday Times published allegations regarding millionaire Hamish Ogston which alleged human trafficking, sexual exploitation and drug offences.
Ogston and his daughter both retired as trustees of the Hamish Ogston Foundation after the claims were published, a new board was appointed and the charity rebranded as the Vinehill Trust.
The Met Police previously said it was investigating historic allegations of exploitation and drug offences but Ogston, who denies the claims made in the Sunday Times investigation, has not been charged.
The Charity Commission opened a regulatory compliance case into the foundation following the allegations but it has now closed this after being assured by trustees that they were taking measures to mitigate and deal with any reputational risk to the charity.
English Heritage announced it had rejected a record £11.2m donation from the foundation following the reports, which would have been the largest it had ever been given, while other charity recipients have reviewed whether or not to keep their funding.
National Trust keeps almost £2m
The National Trust was awarded £6.2m to open an apprenticeship scheme in partnership with the Vinehill Trust and has now decided to keep the £1.955m it has already received.
“The board of trustees has taken the decision to retain funds received so far from the Vinehill Trust (formerly known as the Hamish Ogston Foundation) but following discussions with the grantmaker, to pause receipt of further funds for the Heritage Craft Skills apprentice programme,” a spokesperson for the charity said.
“However, the National Trust remains committed to supporting craft heritage skills into the future.”
Commonwealth charity awarded over £12m
The Commonwealth Heritage Forum was awarded £12.26m from the then-named Hamish Ogston Foundation in June 2023 for its five-year Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Commonwealth Heritage Skills Training Programme.
Registered in 2019 to promote the conservation of the built heritage of the Commonwealth, the funding is the largest donation the membership organisation has received.
Founder Philip Davies said last year: “This huge increase in funding made possible through the generosity of the Hamish Ogston Foundation will provide a future for the many Commonwealth countries and nurture the local heritage champions of the future.”
Commonwealth Heritage Forum has yet to respond to Civil Society’s request for comment but its latest annual report published last month says the project is “funded by the Vinehill Trust” and “involves various training and restoration projects across the Commonwealth”.
The programme is also listed on the Vinehill Trust’s website as one of the projects for which it is a funding partner.
A spokesperson for the Vinehill Trust said: “The Vinehill Trust is honouring all contracted commitments where the project partner wishes to continue with the project, with the objective of preserving value for project beneficiaries.”
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