What more should regulators do to stop foundations possibly being used as a ‘foil’ to un-ethical or illegal activities?

That is the question opened off the back of a Sunday Times investigation that has put the spotlight on businessman and philanthropist Hamish Ogston for all the wrong reasons. Ogston is known for his philanthropic efforts in the arts. He has given donations to the National Trust, providing £2 million to the restoration of York Minster, and a former benefactor of the Oxford Philharmonic Trust. 

On Sunday, an investigation sourced from some 1,000 documents now alleges that Ogston took part in years of trafficking women from southeast Asia to the UK and exploiting them with sex work. 

Of the many allegations, it is claimed that Ogston—who built his fortune with a credit card insurance firm founded in his early 30s—trafficked a 23-year-old woman from the Philippines to the UK in 2013. 

It has put the beneficiaries of his donations in an impossible position. Some promoted his work on social media days before the allegations emerged. The story has raised eyebrows and prompted questions about whether UK regulators could have done more; Ogston’s foundation was listed as only having two trustees, Hamish Ogston and Isabella Ogston. Could more have been done? 

“Charitable giving from foundations is an immensely important part of the fabric of the voluntary sector’s contribution to the UK. In 2020-21 alone, the UK’s largest 300 foundations awarded £3.7 billion in grants from philanthropic sources,” says Carol Mack, Chief Executive Association of Charitable Foundations. 

Foundations are able to plug gaps in essential services where funding doesn’t exist, they fund unpopular or overlooked causes and respond rapidly in a crisis, increasing funding to charities during Covid and the cost of living crisis,” she added. 

Mack says the UK’s regulatory environment promotes transparency.  

“Foundations must adhere to strict reporting standards, and foundation boards are accountable to the charity regulators for ensuring that foundations further their charitable missions,” she added. 

“Clearly the allegations cited in the Sunday Times are very serious and are rightly being reviewed by the appropriate authorities, including the charity regulator.”  

Alliance reached out to the Charity Commission for England and Wales. In a statement, the commission said: “Serious concerns have been raised in the media regarding the Chair of Trustees of The Hamish Ogston Foundation. We are assessing the information to determine our next steps.” 

The commission added that it has made no finding of wrongdoing and could not provide additional comment.  

Ogston denies the allegations, while the Metropolitan Police say they are looking at the accounts provided by the Sunday Times newspaper.  

In a statement he said: “This paints a picture of my personal life that I simply do not recognise. I do not exploit women. I am very sad that the publication of these allegations is going to cause immeasurable harm to the charities which I have been able to support over the years.” 

Shafi Musaddique is news editor at Alliance magazine.