Charity 'wholeheartedly' apologises after workers 'harassed' Kirkby shoppers

A complaint was lodged to the National Deaf Children’s Society after numerous residents reported being bothered by agency workers outside Morrisons in the town, and near the shops at Kirkby Plaza.

Councillor Helen-Ann Smith, deputy leader of Ashfield District Council, took action against agency workers who represent the the charity after responding to a number of complaints on Facebook.

And now the charity has said that the agency workers have been suspended, adding that an investigation has been launched.

Mike Wade, director of fundraising and communications at the charity, said: “I wholeheartedly apologise for the behaviour of these fundraisers, who we suspended immediately.

“We rely on the public’s generosity to support deaf children and their families and we’re taking this matter extremely seriously.

“The agency which employed these fundraisers on our behalf is now carrying out a full investigation to make sure this doesn’t happen again.”

Stephen Thirkill, sports editor at the Chad, was one of many residents who reported being harassed by the workers and says he also heard other people say they had experienced similar issues.

He said: “It’s a real shame you can’t even walk to Morrisons without being hounded by charity people.

“I heard one woman say ‘I’ve said no three times now’, and the man replied ‘let’s make it four then’. It’s disgraceful harassment.”

Coun Smith says she contacted the charity’s head office, with a spokesman replying that they “did not condone” the agency workers’ harassing behaviour.

She said: “I saw several comments on a Facebook post about charity workers harassing members of the public, as they were walking through Kirkby town centre.

“I contacted the charity’s head office who said that they were using an agency to do the communications work.

“They’d already received a call to complain about the way representatives were behaving, and they assured me that they did not condone their actions and that they were going to speak to the manager of the agency.”