The UK’s Department of Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) has hired a dispute management firm to investigate the National Community Lottery Fund (NLCF) following allegations of bullying. Earlier this year, The Times revealed that allegations of intimidation had been made against the fund’s former CEO.
Following these reports, the UK government began looking into complaints against Don Ostwick, who left office last year. In addition to allegations of bullying, there have also been complaints of inappropriate language being used against Ostic.
The government has made it clear that it will provide a strong platform for the fund to make changes to its operations, ensuring that the organization becomes more inclusive and equitable. Now, CMP Resolutions has been contracted to conduct an investigation into the leadership and work culture of the National Lottery Community Fund.
The UK government added that details of the contract with the CMP will be published later to meet transparency requirements. In addition, existing employees who wish to collect information on whistleblowers will be supported.
Employees can express their concerns through the Fund’s current procedures. Currently, the NLCF has a new leadership and it is believed that the government supports this new direction. The Director of the Civil Society Office, David Knott, was recently appointed as the interim Executive Director of the Fund.
A DCMS spokesperson said the agency “continues to work closely with the new leadership team of the National Community Lottery Trust to review its work culture and ensure it is fully focused on using lottery funds to help recover from the pandemic; and to meet the needs of people across the UK”.
About the National Lottery Community Fund
Today, the fund even distributes over £600 million annually to communities across the UK, which is raised by National Lottery players.
