Tri-Service

'Give Us Time' Given Clean Bill Of Health

The charity Give Us Time has been given a clean bill of health after Buzzfeed News questioned practices at the organisation.

Having now looked into the claims the Charity Commission has issued the following statement: “Concerns were raised regarding the charity by Buzzfeed News. The Commission assessed the information in the media article and contacted Give Us Time in August 2016.

The charity cooperated fully with the Commission in their response. Give Us Time informed the Commission that the charity paid for flights for charity staff and volunteers, as well as the military families in order to support their visit to Bulgaria as is usual practice. The charity has informed the Commission that the two individuals mentioned in the news article took part in the visit as volunteers in a personal and private capacity. This does not give rise to regulatory concerns for the Commission.

Further concerns were raised by Buzzfeed News in relation to the charity’s expenditure on charitable activities and spending at the charity. The Commission asked the charity for further information on its charitable activities and investments, and was satisfied that there were no regulatory concerns in relation to these matters. The Commission has now closed its engagement.”

Give Us Time takes holidays donated by owners of holiday groups, hotels, holiday homes and timeshares, and matches them with military families in need of rest, rehabilitation and reconnection after tours of duty.

The charity was founded in 2012 by Dr Liam Fox MP who, in his time as an Army medic and later as Secretary of State for Defence, became aware that homecomings were not always as easy as might be expected for service personnel or their families.