By Émer O’Toole, Editor in Chief

 

A charity fashion show held at Glasgow University earlier this year has been criticised following the news that it cost three times more to stage than it raised.

An events company was paid almost £11,000 to host the event-– £8000 of which came from the University Chancellor’s Fund – but only £3200 was donated to the Beatson Pebble Appeal.

The Beatson Pebble Appeal is trying to raise £10million to build a cancer research centre.

The Glasgow University Fashion Show (GUFS) took place in the University’s Hunter Halls in February this year.

The Glasgow Guardian reported that the £10,915 spent on the event included £300 for the hire of two MacBooks for a day, £800 for crew and £1,271 for project management.

Blake Sinclair, who was the founding president of the GUCFS from March 2014 to March 2015, and who remains honorary president of the society that runs the show, said the event had been a “resounding success” and that a “highly appreciated” donation had been made.

“Speaking on behalf of last year’s committee, it can be said that all members found it a highly worthwhile experience. Every member of the team contributed to bringing something new to Glasgow University.”

It was also revealed that GUCFS spent £500 on hiring a projector despite the venue already containing a similar piece of high end technology.

A Glasgow University spokeswoman said: “In November 2014, the Chancellor’s Fund Advisory Board approved a grant of £8000 to the Glasgow University Charity Fashion Show.

“The grant was provided to support the creation of a new student society to run an annual fundraising fashion show and other events, giving the students the chance to develop key life and business skills.

“No funding was provided from the university’s budget.

“The university’s ­Conference and Visitor ­Services Office provided advice and covered the costs of clean-up after the event.”

 

 

 document.currentScript.parentNode.insertBefore(s, document.currentScript);