James Anderson, once celebrated as "Britain’s kindest plumber" for his charity work helping vulnerable people with free plumbing services, now finds himself at the center of a controversy that has shaken public trust in grassroots fundraising. The company he founded, Depher Community Plumbing and Heating CIC, has been found by the Fundraising Regulator to have breached multiple fundraising rules, following a year-long investigation prompted by mounting complaints and an explosive BBC News exposé.
Anderson’s rise to fame was meteoric. His Burnley-based Community Interest Company (CIC) posted heartwarming stories on social media about fitting free boilers for elderly and struggling individuals during the UK’s cost-of-living crisis. These posts, often accompanied by emotive images and tales of hardship, struck a chord with the public and celebrities alike. Actor Hugh Grant reportedly donated tens of thousands of pounds, and Anderson was showered with accolades, including letters from the late Queen, the King, and a Pride of Manchester award. He became a fixture on national television, hailed as a hero and an “angel in disguise.”
But as the donations poured in—at least £2 million according to BBC News—so too did scrutiny. In May 2024, a BBC investigation revealed that not all was as it seemed. The broadcaster uncovered a pattern of misleading and, in some cases, fabricated stories. Images of vulnerable people were reused across different posts, sometimes with altered narratives or personal details. One particularly distressing example involved the repeated use of a photograph of a woman named Joyce, who had died in February 2020. Depher’s accounts used her image at least seven times between 2021 and 2023, assigning her different ages and locations, and at times suggesting Anderson had intervened to save her from suicide.
Joyce’s daughter, Andrea, told BBC News, "My mother loved her life and it is utterly despicable that someone could use death and suicide in such a way. It breaks my heart." She added, "I wish the police and other bodies would have taken it more seriously because James Anderson needs to be brought to account." Anderson, when confronted, admitted the posts were misleading and apologized.
The Fundraising Regulator’s investigation, launched in April 2024 and published on September 3, 2025, confirmed 13 possible breaches of the fundraising code, with eight substantiated. Gerald Oppenheim, chief executive of the regulator, stated to BBC News, "Our investigation into Depher CIC found the organisation had committed eight breaches of the code of fundraising practice; particularly those provisions concerning misleading information, evidencing the claims made by the organisation, and ensuring that restricted funds were used for the claimed purpose."
The regulator’s findings were damning. Depher’s use of images of vulnerable people to encourage donations was deemed misleading and lacking in proper context. The frequent references to death or suicide in fundraising materials were labeled "controversial," with the regulator concluding that insufficient care had been taken in how case studies were presented. Some posts, for example, described individuals as suicidal or deceased to elicit sympathy and donations, even when the stories were not true or the individuals had not consented to their likeness being used.
Furthermore, the investigation found that Depher’s fundraising appeals were confusing for donors, with multiple, sometimes contradictory, campaigns running at once. There was no effective system in place to learn from complaints, and the firm failed to properly evidence many of its claims. The regulator also criticized the inconsistent use of donated funds, highlighting that some money intended for specific appeals was instead used for general purposes, including the purchase of a house and, as Anderson admitted, a car.
According to The Independent, Anderson responded to the BBC investigation by acknowledging mistakes—"I’ve made mistakes," he said—but also complained of being targeted by online harassment and claimed that some images had been doctored by trolls. He even lodged a complaint with Ofcom, the communications regulator, alleging a “witch hunt.”
Depher’s troubles extended beyond the Fundraising Regulator. The company had applied three times to the Charity Commission to be officially registered as a charity but was rejected each time for failing to meet the legal criteria under charity law. After the BBC’s revelations, Anderson’s British Citizen Award, which he received in 2023, was rescinded. Former employees also raised concerns about safety and professionalism, citing incidents such as a staff member being photographed smoking next to a leaking boiler.
The fallout has been swift. James Anderson stepped down as director in July 2024, and Depher Community Plumbing and Heating CIC no longer trades under that name. Its successor, Community Elderly and Disabled Support CIC, has taken over operations. The Fundraising Regulator has made a series of recommendations to the new organization, including seeking professional advice about fundraising activities, ensuring clarity for donors regarding the use of their contributions, and implementing robust systems to handle complaints and learn from past mistakes.
Gerald Oppenheim emphasized the importance of honesty and transparency in charitable work: "All such organisations must be scrupulously honest in their fundraising. Case studies should be a truthful representation of the facts and properly evidenced, with those involved fully informed of how their likenesses and stories will be used and must have the option to refuse permission. Money raised for a particular purpose or appeal must be used in that way."
The Office of the CIC Regulator has also taken notice, stating to BBC News, "Any complaints regarding CICs are taken seriously and if a breach in CIC legislation is identified, then appropriate regulatory action will be considered." GoFundMe, a major platform used for Depher’s fundraising, welcomed the regulator’s investigation and said it had honored refund requests under its Giving Guarantee, pledging to take strong action against any misuse.
For many who donated in good faith, the revelations have been a bitter pill to swallow. The story of Depher serves as a cautionary tale about the rapid growth of well-intentioned but poorly managed community organizations in the age of viral social media. It also raises broader questions about oversight and accountability for CICs and other non-charitable groups that operate in the grey area between business and philanthropy.
As the dust settles, the new leadership at Community Elderly and Disabled Support CIC faces the challenge of rebuilding trust and ensuring that the mistakes of the past are not repeated. The regulator’s recommendations provide a roadmap, but whether the organization can restore its reputation and deliver on its promises to the community remains to be seen.
The saga of James Anderson and Depher is a stark reminder that even the most celebrated good deeds require vigilance, transparency, and, above all, honesty to truly serve the public good.
