Watchdog clears gay rights youth charity over 'bogus CV' scandal

By GRAHAM GRANT, SCOTTISH HOME AFFAIRS EDITOR Published: 13:21, 13 August 2026 | Updated: 13:21, 13 August 2026 Scotland's charity watchdog has cleared a controversial gay rights organisation of wrongdoing after it appointed a convener despite claims he had a bogus CV. The Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR) said LGBT Youth Scotland (LGBTYS) had acted appropriately – despite questions over how Timothy Westwood was able to secure a senior leadership role. Mr Westwood resigned as convener earlier this year after revelations that major charities he claimed to have worked with said they had no record of him. The row prompted calls for an investigation and led LGBTYS to refer the matter to the OSCR. But the regulator has now ruled that the charity's trustees did not breach their legal responsibilities. Scottish Tory education and equalities spokesman Meghan Gallacher said: 'The regulator’s decision will raise serious questions about whether enough scrutiny was applied to this charity and its governance. 'Taxpayers have poured millions into LGBT Youth Scotland, yet we have seen a string of deeply concerning controversies surrounding the organisation. 'The SNP Government must stop hiding behind regulators and finally take responsibility for ensuring public money is only going to organisations that meet the highest standards of governance and accountability.' An altered image purporting to be Timothy Westwood An OSCR spokesman said: ‘OSCR has assessed the issues raised with us, and we consider the actions of the charity trustees in this case to be consistent with their responsibilities under Scottish charity law. ‘We have not identified any regulatory matters that warrant further action at this time.’ The decision is likely to raise fresh questions about the regulator's willingness to take action against charities amid longstanding criticism from some campaigners and politicians that it is too reluctant to intervene. Westwood was appointed convener of LGBTYS last year and was described by the organisation as a ‘highly experienced third-sector leader, lawyer and governance specialist’. But he stepped down after discrepancies emerged in his professional background. Among the claims questioned were assertions that he had served in leadership and advisory positions with the British Red Cross and the mental health charity Mind. Both bodies said they had no record of him having worked for them. Westwood was not registered as a lawyer in either Scotland or England despite references to legal expertise. Scottish Tory education and equalities spokesman Meghan Gallacher  It also emerged Westwood used a bizarre computer-manipulated image of his 'face' on the LGBTYS website. The revelations triggered political criticism and prompted LGBTYS to contact the OSCR. At the time, Scottish Tory deputy leader Rachael Hamilton said it was ‘absolutely right’ that the regulator should investigate the circumstances surrounding the appointment. The controversy added to wider scrutiny of LGBTYS, which has received more than £13million in public funding. In 2024, BBC Children in Need chairman Rosie Millard resigned during a dispute over grants awarded to the organisation, alleging ‘institutional failure’. The broadcaster's charity later confirmed it had ceased funding LGBTYS. A Mail investigation of LGBTYS accounts earlier this year showed that since 2015 it had received £13.4million from public sources, including the Scottish Government. Asked about the Westwood row earlier this year, John Swinney said: 'Obviously organisations have got to exercise all safeguarding responsibilities and all grant funding decisions are taken with the full scrutiny of all of these questions.' Westwood, who claims to be 25, is linked to a residential address in Dartford, Kent. Critics have questioned how a candidate making such significant claims about his professional background could have been appointed to a prominent position at a major charity without the discrepancies being uncovered. The OSCR's ruling means no further regulatory action will be taken against LGBT Youth Scotland at this time. The watchdog has not explained why it believes the organisation fulfilled its responsibilities despite appointing a board convener with an allegedly bogus CV. The OSCR declined to comment further on why LGBTYS was not guilty of a failure of due diligence.