This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-somerset-64150718
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Paedophile given £36k for student scheme without DBS check | Paedophile given £36k for student scheme without DBS check |
| (3 months later) | |
| Darren Kavanagh also went by the name of Darren Weston | Darren Kavanagh also went by the name of Darren Weston |
| A convicted paedophile received more than £36,000 of public money to employ students without undergoing DBS checks. | A convicted paedophile received more than £36,000 of public money to employ students without undergoing DBS checks. |
| Weston College approved government funding for firms run by Darren Kavanagh to employ seven students - whose ages ranged from 18 to 23. | Weston College approved government funding for firms run by Darren Kavanagh to employ seven students - whose ages ranged from 18 to 23. |
| Kavanagh, 46, was jailed and placed on the sex offenders' register in 2016 after admitting child sexual offences. | Kavanagh, 46, was jailed and placed on the sex offenders' register in 2016 after admitting child sexual offences. |
| The college said there was no government "guidance" that DBS checks were required for scheme organisers. | The college said there was no government "guidance" that DBS checks were required for scheme organisers. |
| Kavanagh, who has been approached by the BBC for comment, was sentenced to two years in prison in Glasgow in 2016 and his name was placed on the sex offenders' register for 10 years. | Kavanagh, who has been approached by the BBC for comment, was sentenced to two years in prison in Glasgow in 2016 and his name was placed on the sex offenders' register for 10 years. |
| The Kickstart funding came from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and was distributed locally through gateway organisations - in this case Weston College. | The Kickstart funding came from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and was distributed locally through gateway organisations - in this case Weston College. |
| The £2bn scheme - which closed in August - was launched by the government in September 2020 to provide funding for employers to create jobs for 16 to 24 year olds on Universal Credit. | The £2bn scheme - which closed in August - was launched by the government in September 2020 to provide funding for employers to create jobs for 16 to 24 year olds on Universal Credit. |
| It provided £36,639.99 to Kavanagh's firm Octo Leisure Ltd based in Weston-super-Mare, North Somerset, between October 2021 and May 2022, a BBC Freedom Of Information request found out. | It provided £36,639.99 to Kavanagh's firm Octo Leisure Ltd based in Weston-super-Mare, North Somerset, between October 2021 and May 2022, a BBC Freedom Of Information request found out. |
| That amount was to cover "wages, national insurance and workplace pension contributions, as well as set-up costs and employment support". | That amount was to cover "wages, national insurance and workplace pension contributions, as well as set-up costs and employment support". |
| Weston Media Works has shut down since news of Kavanagh's convictions came to light | Weston Media Works has shut down since news of Kavanagh's convictions came to light |
| The college said the students who worked for Weston Media Works through Octo Leisure Limited - both of which were run by Kavanagh - were not "placed by Weston College or registered as our students". | The college said the students who worked for Weston Media Works through Octo Leisure Limited - both of which were run by Kavanagh - were not "placed by Weston College or registered as our students". |
| Instead, it said "the DWP set out guidance for Kickstart gateway organisations for the purpose of verifying that all employers had the capacity to offer job roles" via the scheme. | Instead, it said "the DWP set out guidance for Kickstart gateway organisations for the purpose of verifying that all employers had the capacity to offer job roles" via the scheme. |
| A spokeswoman added: "The DWP guidance did not require gateway organisations to undertake DBS checks. | A spokeswoman added: "The DWP guidance did not require gateway organisations to undertake DBS checks. |
| "The college verified that job roles were available, following guidance set out by the DWP. | "The college verified that job roles were available, following guidance set out by the DWP. |
| The Red Notice was issued by the council in October | The Red Notice was issued by the council in October |
| "Following the DWP approval for the employer to access the Kickstart scheme, the DWP managed the recruitment of employees directly with the employer, independently of the college." | "Following the DWP approval for the employer to access the Kickstart scheme, the DWP managed the recruitment of employees directly with the employer, independently of the college." |
| When contacted by the BBC, the DWP said it was "committed to safeguarding claimants". | When contacted by the BBC, the DWP said it was "committed to safeguarding claimants". |
| A spokeswoman for the DWP said Weston College had ceased recruitment via Octo Leisure Ltd in December 2021. | A spokeswoman for the DWP said Weston College had ceased recruitment via Octo Leisure Ltd in December 2021. |
| She added: "All gateways were required to carry out thorough checks to ensure employers had the capacity to deliver the scheme. | She added: "All gateways were required to carry out thorough checks to ensure employers had the capacity to deliver the scheme. |
| Kavanagh has not been seen in Weston for many months | Kavanagh has not been seen in Weston for many months |
| "We are committed to safeguarding claimants and keep our guidance under constant review." | "We are committed to safeguarding claimants and keep our guidance under constant review." |
| The BBC had previously revealed how Kavanagh's convictions came to light in October when a Weston Town Councillor was alerted by a concerned resident about his criminal past. | The BBC had previously revealed how Kavanagh's convictions came to light in October when a Weston Town Councillor was alerted by a concerned resident about his criminal past. |
| They raised the issue with the authorities including North Somerset Council - who promptly issued a Red Notice - an urgent notification warning relevant groups in the area that children, young adults and vulnerable adults should not have contact with Kavanagh - who is also known as Darren Weston. | They raised the issue with the authorities including North Somerset Council - who promptly issued a Red Notice - an urgent notification warning relevant groups in the area that children, young adults and vulnerable adults should not have contact with Kavanagh - who is also known as Darren Weston. |
| Avon and Somerset Constabulary was aware of the notice. | Avon and Somerset Constabulary was aware of the notice. |
| 'Safeguarding alert' | 'Safeguarding alert' |
| In a copy passed to the BBC, the notice - issued on 3 October - states: "Safeguarding alert. | In a copy passed to the BBC, the notice - issued on 3 October - states: "Safeguarding alert. |
| "We have received information relating to safeguarding concerns about an adult with whom some of you may have had contact. | "We have received information relating to safeguarding concerns about an adult with whom some of you may have had contact. |
| "He is known as DARREN WESTON or Darren KAVANAGH and he runs Weston Media Works. | "He is known as DARREN WESTON or Darren KAVANAGH and he runs Weston Media Works. |
| "I would strongly advise you that he has no contact with children, young people or vulnerable adults." | "I would strongly advise you that he has no contact with children, young people or vulnerable adults." |
| Students placed at convicted paedophile's firm | Students placed at convicted paedophile's firm |
| Weston Media Works was running until news of the Red Notice emerged. It later closed and its signs were removed from its office in Weston-super-Mare in October. | Weston Media Works was running until news of the Red Notice emerged. It later closed and its signs were removed from its office in Weston-super-Mare in October. |
| The recently-launched InWeston magazine was also published by Kavanagh. | The recently-launched InWeston magazine was also published by Kavanagh. |
| It has since announced on social media that with "profound regret and sadness" it was closing because the project was "not viable at this time". | It has since announced on social media that with "profound regret and sadness" it was closing because the project was "not viable at this time". |
| Follow BBC West on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to: bristol@bbc.co.uk | Follow BBC West on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to: bristol@bbc.co.uk |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| North Somerset Council | North Somerset Council |
| Scotland | |
| Department for Work & Pensions | Department for Work & Pensions |
| Glasgow | Glasgow |
| Avon and Somerset Constabulary | Avon and Somerset Constabulary |