Scope at war with forces' sweetheart
Oh dear, ain't having a great time of it at the moment.
First an article appeared in the Mail on Sunday, revealing the salaries of four new executives at the charity, at a time when it is already being criticised for closing down certain residential homes and special schools. Then, last weekend, former Stars Organisation for Spastics founder Dame Vera Lynn complained that Scope's plans to focus on campaigning instead of service provision are a "tragedy in the making". Dame Vera also appeared on LBC's breakfast show with Nick Ferrari, calling for the charity to go back to the way it was in the 1950s, a time when, she believes, people did charity work for love, not money.
So, is Scope chief executive Tony Manwaring about to take a U-turn - or a paycut? According to a statement from the charity, it has "no plans whatsoever to stop providing care", just to provide it in a more enlightened way than it did in the '50s. "It is unfortunate that the Mail on Sunday and others are unable to understand this concept," the statement reads, adding that Scope salaries are no more than those paid by other charities. "These people do not come cheaply," it rebuffs.
What's that they say about all publicity?!
