A second charity has turned down a £10,000 donation from funds raised to support an alleged victim of gang rape who has since been convicted of inventing the ordeal.
Women’s Community Matters, a charity that helps victims of sexual and domestic violence in Barrow, was one of two organisations due to share £20,000 raised for Eleanor Williams.
However, the charity told Third Sector that it had decided today to “politely decline” the donation.
Rhona Teale, chair of WCR, said: “Women’s Community Matters’ board of trustees met this morning to consider the offer of a donation from Shane’s fundraising campaign. The board unanimously concluded they would like to politely decline.”
Yesterday, the Maggie Oliver Foundation made the same decision, saying it was “unethical”, given the circumstances under which the money was raised.
Williams was convicted this week of lying about being trafficked by an Asian grooming gang and making false rape claims.
The money came from a fundraising appeal launched by Shane Yerrell, a Conservative councillor from Essex on JustGiving, to support Williams after she first came forward with her allegations.
Maggie Oliver, founder and chair of the Maggie Oliver Foundation, said: “I am aware that a fundraising page was established to raise funds to support Ellie and that there was mention that a portion of any leftover funds would be donated to the charity I founded and chair, The Maggie Oliver Foundation to assist our work in supporting victims and survivors of sexual abuse and exploitation.
“We are very grateful to Shane who established the fundraising page, and to all those who generously donated for thinking of us.
“We do not feel it would be ethical to accept funds that have been raised under false pretences however, so will have to decline the offer and have not received any funds from this campaign.”