The charity that employs Carrie Johnson paid more than £150,000 to its chairman’s wife for interior design services last year.
This figure is equivalent to 10% of all contributions received by public or corporate donors for 2020.
Charity Commission already investigating both the organisation and its sister charity, Howletts Wild Animal Trust. They are being investigated for their financial and spending practices.
According to The Daily Mail, watchdogs opened an inquiry into payments made by chairman Damian Aspinall (and other family members) in April.
According to The Daily Mail, watchdogs opened an inquiry into payments made by chairman Damian Aspinall as well as other relatives in April. Pictured are Victoria and Damian Aspinall
This included concerns that £12,500 had been handed to his wife Victoria for interior design services in 2019.
But updated accounts, filed last month, reveal that Mrs Aspinall’s fees had gone up 12-fold in 2020 to £150,158.
According to the foundation, her fees were subject to rigorous benchmarking to make sure it got ‘value for its money.
It is believed that the mismanagement took place before the arrival in Canada of Prime Minister’s spouse, who assumed an important role as the head of communications at the charity for a “medium to high five-figure” salary.
Ben Goldsmith is the Tory donor and Robin Birley his half-brother. Robin Birley’s father Mark started the Mayfair nightclub Annabel’s.
Boris Johnson’s wife Carrie holds their dog, a Jack Russell-cross named Dilyn. Aspinall Foundation, her position is head of communications.
It was also revealed in the accounts that there were large cash reserves, fine art and property. It paid £124,231 for accountancy undertaken by Alvarium, of which another trustee, Charles Filmer, is a director, in 2020 – double the £64,000 paid in 2019.
Last year the trustees also secured a coronavirus business interruption loan of £2million from the Government, interest free for the first year. The accounts show that this was in turn loaned out to Howletts Wild Animal Trust. John Aspinall, the father of Damian, was an eccentric society naturalist who established Howletts Wild Animal Park in Canterbury.
Port Lympne was near Folkestone, and a second zoo opened. Under John Aspinall, the zoos were known for their unorthodox style – including close personal relationships between staff and animals.
While many keepers lost their lives caring for the animals that they cared for, the Zoos are praised for their efforts to conserve them.
Although the Aspinall Foundation was not available yesterday for comment, Howletts Wild Animal Trust previously released statements that stated they were ‘firmly committed to ethical & legal duties as charitable bodies’.
“Our trustees will continue working openly and transparently alongside the Charity Commission to ensure compliance and best practices in governance.”