Children in Need chair resigns over grants to scandal-hit LGBT charity

Rosie Millard, the chair of BBC’s Children in Need charity, has resigned following controversy surrounding grants awarded to LGBT Youth Scotland (LGBTYS), a charity supporting young gay and transgender individuals. The resignation came after Millard expressed concerns about funding being given to the organization, whose former chief executive, James Rennie, had been convicted in 2009 for child sex offenses.

Millard, a writer and broadcaster, accused Children in Need of “institutional failure” in her resignation letter, which was shared with The Times. She had objected to a £466,000 grant awarded to LGBTYS, which was intended to support its programs for LGBT youth. Millard’s resignation follows a series of incidents involving the charity’s leadership and its handling of allegations related to past sexual offenses connected to the organization.

James Rennie, the former chief executive of LGBTYS from 2003 to 2008, was convicted in 2009 for his involvement in a pedophile ring. He was sentenced to life imprisonment for the sexual assault of a child and conspiracy to access children for the purpose of abuse. The case had left a lasting impact, raising serious concerns about the charity’s leadership and its connection to these offenses. Although LGBTYS had new management in place when the grant was made, Millard’s concerns grew over the perceived lack of due diligence in the awarding of funds.

In response to the resignation, a spokesman for Children in Need reassured the public that the safety of all children and young people is a top priority for the charity. The spokesperson also confirmed that when the allegations regarding LGBTYS surfaced, the charity immediately suspended its funding. A thorough review was conducted, which ultimately led to the withdrawal of the £466,000 grant after a three-month investigation.

However, Millard criticized Children in Need’s chief executive, Simon Antrobus, for not addressing the issue with the seriousness it warranted. She claimed that he only decided to cut funding due to the potential for negative publicity, rather than out of concern for the safety of vulnerable children. Her frustration centered on what she viewed as a failure to respond decisively and swiftly when the allegations came to light.

Antrobus, who has been with Children in Need since 2016, has not publicly commented on Millard’s resignation. Prior to his current role, he held senior positions at Parkinson’s UK and Scope.

The controversy surrounding LGBTYS has deepened with the revelation that another individual linked to the charity was convicted in 2024. Andrew Easton, who contributed to an LGBTYS guide for young people about coming out in the early 2000s, was convicted of sharing indecent images of children, including some of newborn babies. Easton, who had attended LGBTYS services as a young person, was not an employee of the charity but contributed to its work in a voluntary capacity. He was sentenced to community service and placed on the sex offenders register.

In 2022, two men came forward alleging they had been groomed at LGBTYS while Rennie was in charge. In response, the charity suspended one of its staff members and referred the matter to the police. However, LGBTYS has repeatedly defended its work, stating that all allegations have been investigated and cleared by Police Scotland, with no evidence linking the charity’s current activities to past abuses.

Mhairi Crawford, the chief executive of LGBTYS, expressed her disappointment over Millard’s resignation and the withdrawal of funding, calling it “really gutting.” She accused Millard of attacking the organization based on ideological motives rather than the facts of the case. Crawford also emphasized that the charity’s reputation had been damaged by historic allegations, which have been investigated and cleared by the authorities.

Despite these challenges, Crawford respected Children in Need’s decision, even though she found it unfortunate. She added that the manner in which the matter was communicated publicly was disheartening.

Tim Davie, the BBC’s director-general, praised Millard for her significant contributions to Children in Need. He noted that her leadership had had a positive impact on many children’s lives through the charity’s fundraising efforts. Children in Need’s most recent annual telethon raised over £39 million, highlighting the ongoing support for its initiatives despite the controversies surrounding the organization.

In the wake of Millard’s resignation, the board of Children in Need has announced a review of its working practices to ensure that lessons are learned. Millard has agreed to participate in this process to help improve the charity’s future operations.