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Minibus scheme too good to be true?
Posted on Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Source for this page: http://www.nicva.org/news/minibus-scheme-too-good-be-true
NICVA (Northern Ireland Council for Voluntary Action) is advising voluntary and community organisations and sports clubs not to hand over any money to NTF (The ‘National Task Force’, www.ntf.me – website appears to not be operating at this time) or to their Director Mark Townley, as an advance of receiving minibuses through a ‘part-funded’ scheme.
Latest: Following contact with the minibus suppliers named by Mark Townley of NTF, NICVA can confirm that there are no orders for minibuses with the company. NTF failed to transfer cash as a deposit on three vehicles as agreed with the company and was then unable to place subsequent orders on 3 August for a further three vehicles. The minibus supplier has no arrangement with NTF or Mark Townley for the supply of vehicles.
NICVA has been contacted by a number of organisations who have been approached by Mark Townley and offered a fully funded minibus if they first transfer £4,800 for each bus into his account. In most cases the cash has to be transferred within a matter of days to ensure participation in the scheme.
NICVA is aware of a number of organisations who have handed money over to NTF in the expectation of receiving buses in September, however there appears to be no orders for any minibuses from Ford for the promised vehicles.
NICVA visited Mark Townley on 22 July 2010 to ask questions of how the minibus scheme was financed and operated but was not satisfied with answers provided by Mark Townley on the viability of the scheme.
NTF is a company registered in England and Wales but with its operational office in Cromac Avenue in Belfast. Accounts for the company are overdue at Companies House. NICVA had asked for copies of the latest accounts but NTF have been unable or unwilling to produce them.
NTF is not a registered charity but is established as a not-for-profit company limited by guarantee. Mark Townley claims not to be paid for his role with the organisation and to have personally invested close to £100,000 in the venture. When asked how he was financing the NTF operation Mark Townley said to NICVA he had remortgaged his house twice.
During NICVA’s visit to NTF, they asked him to return the cash pre-payment received from the organisations as part of the scheme until a contract had been agreed. The organisations were then contacted by NTF by Mark Townley to say that he was giving them the option of having their money returned. As yet, no organisation has received its cash.
If you have been approached by NTF or Mark Townley regarding this scheme, or if you have any concerns about funding that you have already given as part of this mini bus scheme, please contact Neil Irwin at NICVA for advice.
NICVA, 61 Duncairn Gardens, Belfast, BT15 2GB
Tel: 028 9087 7777
Fax: 028 9087 7799
Email: neil.irwin@nicva.org
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