A businessman once dubbed as “Britain’s kindest plumber” has had his British Citizen Award rescinded after claims he faked stories of helping people to raise money.
James Anderson and his social enterprise ‘Depher’ have posted hundreds of stories on social media since 2019 of elderly, vulnerable, and struggling people they claim to have helped.
He was given the British Citizen Award last year for his work providing boilers and plumbing services for free.
But a BBC Investigation has alleged that stories were faked and pictures of vulnerable people were used without permission and recycled to raise donations.
Depher has attracted at least £2million in donations and drawn celebrity support from singer Lily Allen, Emmerdale actress Samantha Giles, and film star Hugh Grant, who is said to have donated £75,000.
A spokeswoman from the British Citizen Awards told the BBC information which had come to light about Mr Anderson's actions did not "align with our values".
She added: "We pride ourselves in recognising individuals across the UK who work tirelessly and selflessly to make a positive impact on their communities and charities."
Mr Anderson posted his own statement online ahead of the BBC broadcast, apologising for “mistakes” and insisting: “We are taking this very seriously and we are going to change.”
“I’m really really sorry”, he said, before saying his enterprise has changed the way its X account is used and put in place training on safeguarding and data protection.
“If you wish Depher to not continue, please let us know”, Mr Anderson said.
“I can understand the upset and I can understand the harm that may have been inflicted on certain people through mistakes that we have made, and again I apologise for it.”
He then added: “For seven years, my heart has been in this. For seven years we have helped countless people. We have saved countless lives.”
According to the BBC investigation, Depher, a Burnley-based social enterprise, claimed Mr Anderson had prevented an elderly woman from killing herself, when in fact she had died years earlier.
The broadcaster found the image had been used seven times in total by Depher between February 2021 and August 2023, with different ages and locations.
The BBC identified the woman as someone Mr Anderson had helped with a free shower repair, and who had died in February 2020 – a year before her image started to be used online by Depher.
Mr Anderson denied making the social media post himself, but conceded it was “not true”.
Mr Anderson became a social media sensation and made a string of TV appearances to promote his company’s work, receiving thank you notes from Queen Elizabeth II and King Charles III as well as a Pride of Manchester award.
But the BBC says it has discovered a pattern of “misleading and false” social media posts where photos have been reused, and the image of a vulnerable 90-year-old man was used more than 20 times in fundraising posts when he had asked not to be filmed.
In an interview with the BBC, Mr Anderson said: “I know I’ve done it wrong. I apologise. But what can I do? I haven’t got a magic stick. I’m not Harry Potter.”
The broadcaster added that he denied some of the allegations against him, and insisted the use of company funds had been appropriate.
He also claims to have been the victim of “bullying, harassment and attacks” by people on social media. Mr Anderson told the broadcaster he is willing to return some of the money donated as a result of misleading social media posts.
When asked about large donations such as from Hugh Grant, he added: “If Hugh wants the money back, I’ll send it back to him, not a problem.”
