NTF ceases trading as of 5 August 2010

NTF or National Task Force or NTFUK, a not-for-profit social enterprise, stated its aim as “to build safer communities across the UK”. However, the organisation has the legacy of leaving many local community and voluntary organisations seriously out of pocket and volunteers angry with the founder and manager Mark Townley.

NICVA was alerted to NTF by concerns about the minibus scheme which was purporting to provide a new Ford Transit minibus to organisations able to meet quite broad criteria. Typically, an organisation would be approached and offered the last remaining bus as part of the scheme providing they could pay £4,800 to NTF within a matter of days. NICVA heard reports of a number of local charities and community transport associations who had handed cash over to NTF as part of the scheme.

NICVA conducted some research into the company and learnt that it was registered with Companies House in England in April 2009 by a Mark David Townley. Further research revealed that annual accounts were overdue with Companies House. NICVA met with Mark Townley in his Cromac Avenue office on the 22 July 2010 to ask questions about the organisation and how the minibus scheme was being fully financed.

Mark Townley reiterated and updated claims made on his website that he had personally invested close to £100,000 in NTF and that he worked 6 days a week unpaid for the organisation. NICVA however was not convinced by answers provided by Mark Townley on the viability of the minibus scheme on the basis that match funding was not in place to enable delivery of the vehicles.

Further investigations by NICVA confirmed that the minibus suppliers named by Mark Townley had in fact not received any money as deposit on vehicles and therefore no orders existed for NTF.

Following the meeting with Mark Townley, NICVA issued a warning to the community groups and amateur sports clubs not to hand over money to NTF or Mark Townley in advance of receiving minibuses through the scheme. Mark Townley himself agreed to refund the organisations who had paid ‘deposits’ on vehicles. However electronic cash transfers failed to take place and/or cheques bounced. No organisations that NICVA is aware of has received their promised refund.

NICVA also became aware of a number of other businesses and charities who were owed large amounts of money by NTF and uncovered a pattern of unfulfilled promises to meet financial commitments.

Soon organisations across the UK were contacting NICVA to disclose that they had paid NTF thousands of pounds either as part of the minibus scheme or a similar boxing ring initiative that required as much as £1,650 up front.

NICVA has now received reports from 15 community organisations and amateur sports clubs that are owed money by NTF. NICVA also estimates (based on debts we are aware of as reported by alleged debtors) that the company owes at least close to £80,000 to not-for-profit organisations and suppliers.

In a letter dated 6 August 2010 from NTF to stakeholders NTF stated in relation to the company being wound up that “This conclusion has been forced upon us and is devastating to the organisation's objectives, investments, community groups/ voluntary director [Mark Townley] and the positive social impact the organisation had.”

Prior to the letter notifying stakeholders of the winding-up of the company NTF had been evicted from offices in the Gasworks due to non-payment of bills. This eviction followed only a matter of days since the NTF website had been taken down, again for non-payment of services.

NTF is in the process of trying to appoint insolvency lawyers. It will also be a duty of those lawyers when appointed to report on any instances of suspected fraud by directors or employees of NTF.

NICVA is continuing to hear from charities and amateur sports clubs across the UK who have handed over cash to Mark Townley and NTF. Any organisations who have experience with NTF and Mark Townley and would like advice or support can contact NICVA on 028 9087 7777 and speak to Neil Irwin or email neil.irwin@nicva.org.

See also:

• BBC Newsline feature on NTF (at 3mins 40s)
• The original article, advising clubs and organisations not to hand over any money.