A SPORTS company left Colchester High School out of pocket after promising money from a fundraising event.

Surrey-based Sports 4 All told the school, in Wellesley Road, it would get £882 – 60 per cent of the proceeds from the event held in January last year.

The school has still not received any cash.

The Fundraising Standards Board said Sports 4 All has been removed from its scheme and reported it to Trading Standards.

Demetrios Bradshaw, director of Sports 4 All, apologised and said the money is now in the post.

The sports event saw prospective Olympic boxer Kirk Garvey talk to pupils and the youngsters took part in a sponsored sports match.

Colchester High School was planning to spend the money on climbing ropes.

Principal David Young said: “It really let us down, but our parents’ association, Colchester High School Association, stepped in and saved the day.

“They gave us the money to get the ropes and the pupils love them.

“The ropes were installed in October, but would have been earlier if it hadn’t have been for the fact we didn’t get the money we were promised.”

“I hope we eventually get the money and see justice is done.”

Colin Lloyd, chairman of the standards board, said it was unanimously agreed the company had not fulfilled its contractual commitments to the school and was in breach of the board’s fundraising promise. Despite repeated requests by the school and the board, the sum has still not been paid.

The board also found the company had exaggerated the quality of the event.

Mr Lloyd said: “This is inexcusable and the company can no longer be part of the board’s regulatory scheme.

“Honesty and commitment to high standards are two founding principles of self-regulation of fundraising and we feel any violation of these principles is deplorable.

“Honesty is the keystone of charity fundraising and donors must trust wholeheartedly fund-raising organisations will do exactly what they say they will do. Every time these standards are contravened, it gives charities a bad name.”

The board has informed the Department for Education and the Youth Sports Trust and recommended schools are notified about the case.

Mr Bradshaw, director of Sports 4 All, said: “I have apologised profusely to the board and the school.

“It was a mistake on our behalf that we didn’t get it to them sooner.

“The money has been sent and the school should receive it this week.

“We visit more than 300 schools a year and have fantastic responses.

“It is very rare for a school to have a problem with us.”

He added the company is a small outfit and delays in the payment happened because he spent time abroad last year in his capacity as an international gym coach.

He said claims the quality of the event was exaggerated were nonsense.