An education charity’s former grants manager has been spared jail after she stole more than £46,000 from the organisation.
Faye Dent, 39 and of Jarrow, Tyneside, has been given a suspended sentence after defrauding The Reece Foundation, a charity that promotes manufacturing and STEM education primarily in north-east England.
Last month, Dent pleaded guilty to fraud by abuse of position at Newcastle Magistrates Court.
She admitted defrauding the charity by transferring £31,493 of its funds to her personal bank account between 23 September and 12 December 2024.
Third Sector understands a further £15,000 was also identified as sent to her partner’s bank account, bringing the total stolen to £46,493.
At a hearing yesterday at Newcastle Crown Court, Dent was sentenced to 20 months suspended for 12 months, with a mental-health treatment requirement.
The Reece Foundation was founded in 2007 by engineer and businessman Alan Reece and is run by his daughter Anne, the charity’s chair.
“The Reece Foundation acknowledges the conclusion of criminal proceedings involving a former employee,” she said. “We do not intend to comment on the sentence.”
Anne Reece previously told Third Sector the charity was “deeply disappointed by this breach of trust” and that it had since enhanced its financial controls to help prevent similar incidents in future.
She said the charity remained focused on the future and continuing its work to support education, employment and environmental causes across the north-east.
“The foundation remains financially stable and fully committed to its grant-making activities,” Reece said.
“We want to reassure beneficiaries, partners and stakeholders that we continue to operate and award funding in line with our charitable aims.”
She said: “We are grateful for the patience and understanding shown during this difficult period and look forward to continuing to support schools, charities, voluntary groups and community organisations whose work makes such a positive difference to the north-east.”