When Facts Are Branded “Lies”: Why We Are Publishing This Briefing

When Facts Are Branded “Lies”: Why We Are Publishing This Briefing

We did not set out to publish this briefing publicly.

Our clear preference was to deal with these matters quietly, proportionately and through proper channels — trustees first, then regulators, alongside Freedom of Information requests and formal correspondence. That approach was taken in good faith.

However, that position has become impossible to maintain.

In recent days, former members and whistle-blowers have been publicly smeared, accused of “lying” and “making things up”, and subjected to trolling and personal attacks. This has happened despite the fact that:

• the issues raised are grounded in verifiable facts and figures
• many of the key numbers come directly from Let’s Dance Again CIO’s own public posts
• trustees were given reasonable opportunities to respond, clarify, or correct the record
• no substantive response or correction has been issued

Silence on governance questions, followed by public accusations against those raising them, is not accountability. It is intimidation by implication.

We are therefore publishing the following briefing to protect those individuals, to place the facts clearly on the public record, and to make it absolutely clear that what follows is not opinion, rumour or malice — but a black-and-white summary of figures, statements, timelines and inconsistencies, drawn from:

• Let’s Dance Again CIO’s own public statements
• published Charity Commission accounts
• contemporaneous witness statements
• observable activity records

No conclusions are asserted beyond what the evidence reasonably supports.
No speculation is added.
No language has been embellished.

What follows is the briefing in full, reproduced exactly as held on file.

Briefing Note

Let’s Dance Again CIO – Governance, Financial & Regulatory Concerns

Status: Updated comprehensive briefing (post–21 January blog)

1. Purpose of this Briefing

This briefing consolidates all matters raised since the last updated Master Foundation Document (MFD) and subsequent blog publication. It draws together factual evidence, figures, activity statements made publicly by Let’s Dance Again CIO (LDA), witness statements from former members, and identified gaps or inconsistencies within submitted financial accounts.

The briefing is evidence-led. No assertions are made beyond what can be substantiated by:

• LDA’s own public posts and statements
• Published accounts
• Witness statements
• Observed activity records

2. Summary of Key Concerns (High Level)

• Scale of activities publicly claimed appears materially inconsistent with reported income
• Extensive cash-based activities with no visible accounting breakdown
• Bingo activity raising questions under gambling legislation
• Repetition of near-identical income figures across reporting years
• Absence of constitution, policies, AGM records, or minutes
• Failure to respond to reasonable clarification requests
• Subsequent public disparagement of whistle-blowers and former members

3. Activity Scale – Publicly Stated by LDA

At a clearly defined point in time (LDA 4th Birthday post – 2 November 2025), LDA publicly stated:

3.1 Shows

• 48 monthly shows hosted
• 49th show advertised (Tom Jones tribute)
• First show: 18 November 2021
• Example ticket volume: 96 tickets sold for first show
• Ticket prices commonly referenced: £10–£15 (with food) / £10 bring-your-own

3.2 Coffee Mornings

• 178 coffee mornings held by that date
• Weekly frequency stated
• Entry charge referenced: £2.50 at the door (includes brunch & hot drink)

3.3 Bingo

• Regular bingo sessions advertised
• £100 bonus bingo prizes publicly promoted
• Multiple bingo desks identified
• Bingo described as a recurring feature alongside other cash activities

3.4 Additional Cash-Based Activities

Regularly advertised activities include:

• Raffles (£1 per ticket)
• Cake stalls
• Sweet stalls
• Bric-a-brac sales (50p / £1 pricing stated)
• Auctions
• Greeting card sales
• Ticket sales for:
  • Day trips (£20 cited)
  • Theatre / pantomime trips (£25–£30 cited)
• Deposits (£10 per person referenced)

4. Financial Reporting – Core Issue

4.1 Headline Concern

The figures reported in accounts do not credibly reflect the scale, frequency, or diversity of activities described above.

4.2 Year-on-Year Similarities

• Income figures across successive reporting years show remarkable similarity
• This is inconsistent with:
  • Expansion of shows
  • Increasing ticket prices
  • Growth in coffee mornings
  • Additional bingo and fundraising activity

4.3 Cash Handling

No breakdown is provided for:

• Cash collected per activity type
• Cash reconciliation processes
• Bingo takings vs payouts
• Raffle proceeds
• Stall income
• Ticket handling (cash vs other)

This absence materially limits confidence in the accounts.

5. Bingo & Gambling Compliance

5.1 Observed Practice

• Bingo advertised with fixed and bonus prizes
• Regular sessions promoted
• No evidence of:
  • Licence disclosures
  • Small society lottery registration
  • Prize limit compliance statements

5.2 Regulatory Risk

Without clarity on structure and limits, bingo activity may fall outside permitted exempt gaming and requires explicit explanation.

6. Governance Documentation – Missing

Despite repeated requests and extensive public activity, there remains no evidence provided of:

• A governing constitution
• Financial controls policy
• Cash handling policy
• Gambling or fundraising policy
• AGM notices or minutes
• Trustee meeting minutes
• Recorded decisions regarding sponsorship arrangements

This is particularly notable given:

• Scale of income claimed
• Sponsorship references
• Handling of vulnerable service users

7. Engagement & Right of Reply

• Trustees were given reasonable opportunity to respond
• Requests were factual and specific
• No substantive response or correction has been issued
• No counter-evidence has been produced

8. Treatment of Former Members, Witnesses & Whistle-Blowers

8.1 Post-Disclosure Conduct

Following the raising of concerns:

• Public posts have framed the issues as “lies”
• No factual inaccuracies have been identified
• Former members have been trolled and disparaged
• Witness credibility has been attacked without evidence

8.2 Regulatory Relevance

This conduct is significant because:

• Trustees have a duty to respond constructively to scrutiny
• Whistle-blowers should not be discouraged or smeared
• Silence on substance combined with reputational attacks is inconsistent with good governance

9. Comparator Analysis (Illustrative)

This briefing does not allege exact income figures. However, even conservative extrapolation using LDA’s own numbers indicates:

• At the point LDA stated it had held 178 coffee mornings, with regular attendance of 150+ people and a £2.50 entry fee, this alone equates to a conservative minimum of approximately £66,750 in entry income (178 × 150 × £2.50), excluding bingo, raffles, stalls, food sales, trips, and other cash-based activity.
• 48 shows × 80–100 attendees × £10–£15 = tens of thousands of pounds in gross ticket sales. £38,400 on lowest figure estimate (48 x 80 x £10) 
• Bingo, raffles, stalls, trips and deposits materially increase turnover

These comparator figures sit uncomfortably alongside modest headline income figures reported in accounts.

10. Why This Matters

This is not about criticism of community activity. It is about:

• Accountability
• Transparency
• Protection of beneficiaries
• Proper stewardship of funds

The combination of:

• Scale
• Cash handling
• Governance gaps
• Silence in response
• Attacks on whistle-blowers

… materially elevates regulatory concern.

11. Position Statement

• All facts cited originate from LDA’s own public material or direct witness evidence
• No allegations of dishonesty are made — only requests for explanation
• The burden of clarification lies with those responsible for governance and accounts

End of Briefing

#FactsNotSmears #FollowTheMoney #CharityGovernance #TransparencyMatters #Whistleblowers #PublicRecord #Accountability #NumbersDontAddUp