Charity Leader Steps Down Amid False Credentials Scandal
A senior figure at a charity supporting gay and transgender teenagers, which has received millions in pounds of public funding, has resigned following allegations that he is a 'Walter Mitty character' with a fabricated curriculum vitae. Timothy Westwood was appointed as the convener of LGBT Youth Scotland (LGBTYS) last year, promoted as a 'highly experienced third-sector leader, lawyer and governance specialist'. However, he has now stepped down after multiple charities, whose boards he claimed to have served on, denied any knowledge of his involvement.
Questionable Background and Altered Image
It has emerged that Westwood previously referred to himself as 'Rt Hon Lord Barony Timothy Guy Westwood' without any legitimate right to use such titles. Additionally, he utilised a bizarre computer-manipulated image of his face on the official LGBTYS website. After being alerted to these discrepancies, the charity, which has a history of being run by a paedophile in the past, confirmed his resignation. According to Companies House information, Westwood is 25 years old.
Hels Bowie, the head of partnerships at LGBT Youth Scotland, stated to The Times: 'Timothy Westwood has resigned as convener of the board of LGBT Youth Scotland. As a charity, LGBT Youth Scotland are committed to strong governance and are taking action with the board to undertake a full investigation into the media allegations regarding Timothy’s qualifications and experience.'
Previous Controversies and Political Reactions
In 2024, Rosie Millard, chair of the BBC’s Children in Need charity, resigned, alleging 'institutional failure' in a dispute over £466,000 in grants awarded to LGBTYS. Westwood asserted that he had held senior leadership and advisory roles with organisations such as the British Red Cross and Mind, the mental health charity, but both entities confirmed they have no records of his employment. Furthermore, he is not registered as a lawyer in either Scotland or England.
Records indicate that a company founded in 2019 by 'The Rt Hon Lord Barony Timothy Guy Westwood', who shares the same birthdate as Westwood, had been struck off. When questioned about the situation, John Swinney remarked: 'Obviously organisations have got to exercise all safeguarding responsibilities that we would expect to be the case, and all grant funding decisions are taken with the full scrutiny of all of these questions.'
However, Scottish Tory deputy leader Rachael Hamilton countered: 'John Swinney can’t just wash his hands of this issue. He should show some common sense and withhold money from this activist group, like BBC Children in Need have done.' Pam Gosal, Scottish Tory candidate for Strathkelvin and Bearsden, added: 'This activist group must come clean about this individual’s true identity and credentials.'
Internal Concerns and Governance Response
A charity insider told The Times: 'All the evidence would appear to suggest that he is a Walter Mitty character.' In response, a spokesman for LGBTYS explained: 'Our recruitment process for all board members includes an application, an interview, receipt of two professional references... and becoming a member of the Protecting Vulnerable Groups scheme prior to appointment to the board and Companies House and The Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator.'
Westwood has been approached for comment regarding these allegations, but no response has been provided at this time. The scandal raises significant questions about governance and oversight within charities receiving substantial public funds.
