There can be no doubt whatsoever that the charity attached to West Bromwich Albion Football Club, The Albion Foundation, does some excellent work. When all said and done, however, it is connected to a multi-million pound commercial operation (which actually made a pre-tax profit according to its accounts) and the Foundation is certainly not shy on its website in promoting the Premier League (we hope) Club. In the circumstances, I merely ask the question why SMBC needs to fund this charity so generously - particularly when it has wrecked the local arts charity, is cutting frontline services and is about to boot out over one-third of its own workforce.
From the SMBC payments over £500 list, in the 2013-2014 financial year the Council made three payments totalling £8,210 direct to the football club (!) and a stonking £199,030.50 to The Albion Foundation. (There may also be payments under £500 too but I don't have access to that information as yet).
Now it could be that SMBC are securing external grants and simply acting as a conduit to pass money on (although why the money cannot go direct to the charity I know not) and, as ever, I invite them to clarify the position.
One of the Trustees of The Albion Foundation is Tony Costello, described on the website as being "previously at Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council" and another is Labour "Councillor" and "cabinet member" Hackett. Cosy!
As The Turdfinder-General tweets each week, "Boing Boing"!
(PS I understand the Baggies have also directly benefited through additional bookings etc from SMBC's decision to destroy The Public.)
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