Inquiry Report: TWSPP CIC
OSCR has today (3 May 2024) directed a Community Interest Company, TWSPP CIC (company number SC736743) to stop misrepresenting itself as a charity in Scotland.
Background
OSCR has been concerned by posts on more than one social media platform that imply this organisation is the Scottish registered charity, The World Suicide Prevention Project (Scottish charity number SC052467).
Due to these concerns, we made inquiries under section 28 of the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005 (the 2005 Act) and it appears to us that the organisation has been misrepresenting itself as a charity in Scotland.
What our inquiries found
TWSPP CIC, also known as The World Suicide Prevention Project, was incorporated on 28 June 2022. On 12 April 2023, a separate limited company, The World Suicide Prevention Project was registered as a Scottish charity. On this date, TWSPP announced on its Facebook page, and on LinkedIn, that TWSPP was now a registered charity.
From 12 April 2023 the posts on the TWSPP Facebook pages are misleading and imply that the fundraising activities are being carried out by and for the charity when they are not.
All funds raised by said fundraising activities went to TWSPP CIC, not the charity; TWSPP CIC has been misrepresenting itself as the charity called The World Suicide Prevention Project.
What action will be taken?
On 3 May 2024 OSCR issued a direction under section 31(5) of the 2005 Act requiring TWSPP CIC to stop representing itself as a charity registered in Scotland. This direction is valid for six months and expires on 3 November 2024. The direction can be revoked or varied by OSCR during this period if it determines it appropriate to do so.