If a community group continues to break the law should the community group have the whistle blown?

Question

In my small town in the lothians of scotland we have a Healthy living centre that has the advantages of charitable status by going under the umbrella of the community development company charity.

The Healthy living centre has a bar licence that makes it illigal for under 14s to enter the bar area, (a community sports facility that d-bars under 14s!!)

The centre has now extended the bar area by building another bar in the only sports hall. The sports hall is now a bar lounge, and has no sports activities in the sports hall.

I have spoken with the board of trustees, they will continue to run the bars (even though they know that by law under 14s should not enter the bar areas (over 60% of the centre)) simply to get the revenue the bar provides.

Suggest that if the board has no problem with "bending the law" we gain the services of a drug dealer who would match the revenue from the bar in 6 weeks!

Should I turn a blind eye or blow the whistle?

Answer 1

Blow the whistle.  You'll be doing the right thing.  Protecting young people not to mention the integrity of the Healthy living Centre. And a drug dealer of all things is terrible.

Answer 2

Blow the whistle!

Answer 3

Blow that whistle loud and strong.

Answer 4

Think of all the genuine charities, it is them who should be benefitting from the status this establishment now abuses.

In the words of Abraham Lincoln -

"To stand in silence when they should be protesting makes cowards out of men”

Answer 5

Absolutely, blow the whistle as this is sending out the wrong message.

Answer 6

You could write to someone who is in higher authority to take action. The people are definately abusing the system for their own profit anyway, so GO AHEAD and Blow the whistle on em!

Answer 7

if they are a registered charity you should report them to the charities commission as it sounds as if they are not acting in line with their charitable staus or their  memorandum and articles of association (or something along those lines). I'm not sure if it's the same contact for Scotland but go to http://www.charitycommission.gov.uk/

Answer 8

Report them to the Scottish Charity regulator - apart from the under 14's in the bar issue, it looks as if they have reduced their charitable side to run a social club, which is not charitable activity! You can remain anonymous.

Answer 9

blow the whistle if your facts are right then you have done the right thing