An inquiry into the Moss Side and Hulme Community Development Trust has this week found the charity wrongly paid its chairman £56,000.
According to the Charity Commission, accounts for the community organisation – based in the Windrush Millennium Centre in the inner-city suburb of Moss Side – claimed it helped some 400 people at a cost of £60,000 per year, but its ITC Learning Centre had been closed since 2015 and trustees held no records of charitable work.
It was thus unable to provide any evidence of such activities.
The charity told the inquiry it trained and empowered unemployed people, and assisted those affected by the Windrush Scandal, with chairman Hartley Hanley – one of two trustees, the other being Mike Bisson – also stating the trust had not received any public funds.
But the commission found that payments totalling £56,000 had been made to Mr Hanley without authority for acting as the charity’s CEO.
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Accounts show he was paid £17,500 in 2013, £18,500 in 2014, and £20,000 in 2015.
The commission report concluded: “The charity’s governing document explicitly prohibits trustee remuneration for the supply of work or goods to the charity,”
The commission also told of how the organisation’s annual report for 2015 said its ITC Learning Centre had “assisted over 400 local people at a cost in excess of £60,000 per annum”, but Mr Bisson told the commission during an interview in 2018 that “the centre may have been closed since 2015”.
Mr Hanley confirmed in 2019 that “the centre had not been used since 2015 or 2016”.
The report found that the men “were not able to evidence the £60,000 expenditure for the centre,” and in addition, “the charity held no records to evidence its charitable activities”.
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A failure to submit accounts to the commission is categorised as “a criminal offence”.
The commission confirmed to the BBC that it has declined to refer the matter to the police however, stating: “We did not make a referral to the police, as on this occasion we took action to remedy the governance shortcomings at the charity and hold the trustees to account on the delivery of these actions [but] we are continuing to monitor the charity.”
Mr Hanley and Mr Bisson have both declined to publicly comment further on the findings of the enquiry.
The full report can be found via the gov.uk website here.
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Manchester’s newest hotel launches massive recruitment drive with 100+ jobs available
Emily Sergeant
One of Manchester’s newest hotels has launched a massive recruitment drive with more than 100 jobs available to locals.
The Medlock, Manchester’s bold new 401-bedroom hotel – which is born from a partnership between Manchester City Football Club and Radisson Hotel Group, and is set to open later this year in the autumn – is looking for new team members across a wide range of areas, including front of house, housekeeping, engineering, and reservations.
To welcome these new team members onboard, the hotel has now launched a massive recruitment drive with dozens of roles available to local people.
Individuals who bring ‘authenticity, pride, and personality’ to everything they do are encouraged to apply for the roles – which go live early next week (Monday 27 April).
Aimed at boosting employment within the local community, vacancies span front-of-house, housekeeping, engineering and reservations.
The recruitment drive – delivered in partnership with Total People – is being lead by Valor Hospitality, the hotel’s operator chosen for its global expertise and people-first approach to hospitality, and will be offering tailored training programmes that are designed to make careers in hospitality accessible to Manchester residents.
Vocational qualifications across a range of skills will help individuals build confidence and step into rewarding roles in the industry, and it also means prior experience is not entirely necessary.
More than 100 roles will be available to local people / Credit: Supplied
General Manager Richard Pearson says the recruitment drive is a ‘unique opportunity to be part of an exciting partnership’.
“This is a milestone we’ve been eagerly anticipating, building the team that will bring The Medlock to life,” he added. “We’re looking for people who carry the spirit of Manchester with them, people who are proud of where they’re from and passionate about creating something special together.”
As mentioned, all job adverts will go live next Monday (27 April) so hopefuls can get their applications submitted here.
This’ll then be followed by invite-only open days for shortlisted candidates in mid May.
Featured Image – Supplied
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UK passes bill to ban everyone born after 2008 from smoking in ‘historic’ moment
Emily Sergeant
In what is described as being a ‘historic moment’, the UK has now passed a bill to ban everyone born after 2008 from ever buying tobacco products.
It’s been a long time coming, but the final draft of the landmark Tobacco and Vapes Bill completed its journey through the Houses of Commons and Lords yesterday (21 April 2026), and is now on its way to receiving royal assent to officially become the law.
For those unfamiliar, the Tobacco and Vapes Bill will stop people who were born on or after 1 January 2009 from ever taking up smoking.
It will also give Government ministers new powers to regulate tobacco, vaping, and nicotine products – including their flavours and packaging, which make them more appealing to younger generations.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting has hailed the bill’s passing as a ‘historic moment for the nation’s health’ on the road to creating a smoke-free generation.
The UK has passed a bill to ban everyone born after 2008 from smoking / Credit: Lil Artsy (via Pexels)
“Children in the UK will be part of the first smoke-free generation, protected from a lifetime of addiction and harm,” Mr Streeting said after the bill was passed this week.
“Prevention is better than cure. This reform will save lives, ease pressure on the NHS, and build a healthier Britain.”
The ban on purchasing tobacco products for those born after 2008 was first mooted by Rishi Sunak’s Conservative Government a number of years back, but was eventually shelved ahead of the 2024 General Election, and then revived again by Labour when they took power.
The bill’s passing parliament has been welcomed by charities and campaign groups – most notably Cancer Research UK.
“This is a historic achievement that will shield our children from the devastating grip of tobacco addiction and help to put an end to cancers caused by smoking,” concluded Michelle Mitchell, who is the Chief Executive Officer at Cancer Research.
The Manc -
4th December 2020 
