Poppyscotland fears it could be caught in a backlash after a BBC investigation into a dodgy military charities was aired in the week running up to Remembrance Sunday
BBC Scotland has been accused of damaging this year’s Poppy Appeal by broadcasting an investigation into dodgy military charities.
Poppyscotland says it implored the corporation not to schedule its investigation, called the Great Military Charity Scandal, during the appeal in case it impacted on its legitimate fundraising efforts.
The charity says it applauded journalists unmasking those using forces charities to promote hate, but it had asked if the broadcast could be delayed till after Remembrance Sunday.
However, it was rebuffed by the BBC, whose insist that the programme was completely in the public interest and which went to lengths to make it clear Poppyscotland is in no way implicated.
Those most likely to be damaged by this decision are the vulnerable veterans and armed forces families who rely on our support
The programme features the activities of small, English-based charities, such as one called 1st Knight.
It says it is a veterans’ charity which provides respite breaks abroad for ex-military personnel with post-traumatic stress disorder.
However, journalists found that it is also pedalling anti-Muslim and Nazi paraphernalia.
Poppyscotland chief executive Mark Bibbey said: “While we wholeheartedly applaud the work of the investigation team in highlighting the shocking behaviour of these small, English-based organisations, we believe this programme should have been shown out with the Scottish Poppy Appeal period.
“We do not see how BBC Scotland can possibly consider the timing of this to be in the wider public interest. Despite not being mentioned or implicated in any way in the programme, the decision to broadcast it during a week when one military charity has a uniquely high profile will lead many to wrongly assume that The Great Military Charity Scandal involves Poppyscotland.
“Despite highlighting our concerns to the BBC, it was unwilling to consider moving the transmission date and did not appear to take seriously the potentially damaging effect the timing of the broadcast could have on our fundraising efforts. Unfortunately those most likely to be damaged by this decision are the vulnerable veterans and armed forces families who rely on our support.”
“We are urging the public to recognise that the issues highlighted in the programme do not relate to Poppyscotland in any way.
“We pride ourselves on our transparency and operating to the highest standards in everything we do, and we are calling on the public to continue with their life-changing donations to the Scottish Poppy Appeal in the days leading up to Remembrance Sunday.”
However, a BBC Scotland spokesman responded: “As PoppyScotland have indicated, our investigation into the veterans charity 1st Knight, and a number of other organisations, was in the public interest and one that we felt should be told sooner rather than later.
"The programme was very clear who these charities were and there was no link whatsoever made to Poppyscotland. It also offered guidance to our audiences on how to donate with confidence to charities.
"As we do every year, the BBC will commemorate the Remembrance activities this weekend and we don't believe the Poppy Appeal will in any way be affected by the activities of an entirely unrelated veterans' charity."
