Jimmy Savile allegations 'may harm' his charity

Governance | Jonathan Last | 2 Oct 2012

The trustees of the charity set up by the late Jimmy Savile are concerned that recent allegations of child abuse by the TV personality could jeopardise its work.

The entertainer established the Jimmy Savile Charitable Trust in 1985. It reported an income of £132,546 in its latest accounts, up to 30 July 2012, and has raised an estimated £40m in its lifetime.

Beneficiaries have included Stoke Mandeville Hospital and a scheme for undergraduate medical students run by the University of Leeds.

Reports surfaced this week that the former DJ and Jim’ll Fix It presenter, who died last year aged 84, is alleged to have abused young girls. Tomorrow will see the documentary Exposure: The Other Side of Jimmy Savile screened on ITV1.

In a statement, the charity's trustees said that the broadcast of the allegations, which "by their very nature will be one‐sided", may impact on the Trust and its endeavours.

“We are saddened by any proposed television documentary which alleges that the late Sir Jimmy Savile committed acts of underage sexual abuse,” the trustees said. “The publication of such grave allegations may affect the charitable trust, which supports so many good causes.”

The statement added: “[Savile] raised more than £40m for good causes, giving away 90 per cent of his income. We recently auctioned his personal belongings and raised over a further quarter of a million pounds for good."

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