A troubling case of betrayal has emerged involving a woman who has been ordered to repay £86,000 she stole from a charity founded in memory of her best friend’s daughter. Lindsay MacCallum, aged 61, committed the crime over a span of ten years while co-founding Rainbow Valley alongside Angela MacVicar. This charity was created as a tribute to MacVicar’s late daughter, Johanna, who tragically succumbed to leukemia at the age of 27. The situation has garnered significant attention due to the extent of the theft and the personal betrayal felt by those involved.
MacCallum’s deceptive actions included not only stealing from Rainbow Valley but also embezzling an additional £9,505 from the Anthony Nolan Trust, a charity that facilitates stem cell donations. Her fraudulent activities came to light after she was sentenced to three years in prison in October for her crimes. While she has already returned £25,000 of the stolen funds, the remaining sum is now subject to court orders demanding reimbursement. These actions have left a deep scar in the relationship between her and MacVicar, who expressed feeling “totally bereft” over these events.
Recently, during a court session at Falkirk Sheriff Court, it was agreed that MacCallum would have until March 2025 to repay the £60,000 still owed to Rainbow Valley and the £9,505 for the Anthony Nolan Trust. The arrangement to delay confiscation proceedings allows MacCallum time to liquidate her assets to cover the outstanding debts. Advocate Sarah Loosemore, representing MacCallum, stated that her client is committed to ensuring the money is directed back to the charities from which it was wrongfully taken, emphasizing the importance of restitution to the organizations involved.
Outside the courtroom, MacVicar expressed optimism at the legal resolution, saying, “The court has done us justice.” She had previously feared that any proceeds from a confiscation order might go to the government rather than the charities that had been exploited. The anguish caused by MacCallum’s actions has not only affected MacVicar but has reverberated through the communities involved with the charities that aim to provide support for cancer victims.
The court heard detailed accounts of how MacCallum, a former fundraising manager with the Anthony Nolan Trust from 1995 to 2012, had manipulated various financial accounts to siphon off funds for her personal use. She was found to have forged signatures of charity staff and misdirected funds in a systematic and deliberate manner between the years 2011 and 2021. A sheriff noted her actions were calculating and a betrayal of trust towards cancer patients and their families who relied on the support that Rainbow Valley was supposed to provide.
The fallout between MacCallum and MacVicar began in 2022 when discrepancies were discovered in an account used for a fundraising event. That discord prompted a closer examination of their financial dealings, revealing that MacCallum had diverted a total of £85,978 from Rainbow Valley alone. Initially, she was appointed as the project development manager and had even been issued a charity credit card in 2014, but the misuse of both the credit and fundraising accounts remained unnoticed until the friends’ rift emerged.
MacCallum’s previous background includes service in the Royal Navy, which adds another layer of complexity to this narrative of deception and betrayal. Overall, the case has highlighted significant issues regarding trust in charitable organizations and the potential for individuals with access to funds to exploit their positions. As this story continues, it serves as a poignant reminder of the importance of accountability, transparency, and integrity in philanthropic endeavors.
