SCANDAL: Mental Health Aberdeen Charity Accused of Inappropriate Spending Before Sudden Closure
Imagine the shock and confusion when a beloved charity, Mental Health Aberdeene, suddenly shut its doors without any warning. The charity regulator is now scrutinizing a series of troubling allegations about the organization’s financial management. But here’s where it gets controversial. The charity’s closure has sparked a flurry of public complaints, leading to an investigation by the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator, OCR. The charity, which provided free self-referral counseling services, ceased operations abruptly on July 24th. In a brief Facebook post, chairman Mark Lock cited a complex set of circumstances and claimed that the charity had not been able to reap the long-term benefits of its strategic investments over the past few years. However, the public’s concerns about inappropriate expenditure have raised eyebrows and prompted OSCR to consider launching a formal inquiry. An OCR spokesperson confirmed to the press and journal that they are assessing multiple complaints from the public regarding the charity’s closure and alleged financial missteps. We have received a number of concerns from the public about the closure of mental health aberdine which included allegations of inappropriate expenditure by the organization. The spokesperson stated these concerns are currently being assessed in line with our standard policies and procedures. Mark Lach did not respond to requests for further comment. The Press and Journal has uncovered that Mental Health Aberdine, MHA, had outstanding loans with Handles Bank and plc, a UK subsidiary of the Swedish bank at the time of its collapse. Company’s house records reveal that MHA’s leadership borrowed money multiple times between October 2021 and March 2022. One of the most significant expenditures was the purchase of an Aberdeene city center building for £475,000. According to Scotland’s Land Information Service, MHA acquired multiple addresses within the building above Burger King across from the Music Hall, including 221 to 227 Union Street, 1 to 4 D Street, and numbers 2, 4, and 6 Langstain Place. Additionally, the charity owned a car park at 58 D Street, accessible from behind on Gordon Street. MHA moved its head office to part of the building above Burger King known as Langstain House after extensive renovation work. This move was intended to create a local hub offering in demand services to the community. Part-time charity chief executive Graham Kinghghorn discussed this development in a podcast interview four months ago. He emphasized his businessoriented approach to running the charity, stating, “I have had a career in business, and I hate the way that charities are sometimes perceived as not being businesses, and that’s not the way that I like to run the charity.” King Horn described the new offices as a long-term investment, saying, “It means that the charity will never have to move again. We own the building. The shops underneath have also been purchased, and we are about to expand our charity element into that space at the moment. You have to try and push the boundaries a wee bit,” he added. Esaw Stewart, a charity trustee, also participated in the interview, praising King Horn’s efforts to future proof the charity. “You are taking great steps, I think, to futureproof the charity. You have done amazing things to be proud of,” she said. Kinghorn, who served as the charity’s treasurer before becoming its chief executive, worked for MHA for 15 out of its 75 years of operation. And this is the part most people miss. The charity was running six projects including Aberdine Counseling and Information Service ASIS and onetoone Dside before its closure. These services catered to both adults and children offering support in various community settings. Yesterday, company’s house confirmed it was processing a court order to wind up the company. If you have any information or insights to share about this story, feel free to reach out to our investigations reporter Brian Rutherford at brian.rotherford pressjournal.co.uk. The sudden closure of Mental Health Aberdeene raises important questions about financial transparency and accountability in charities. Do you think charities should be held to the same financial standards as businesses? Should there be stricter regulations to prevent such situations? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
Breaking investigation reveals allegations of inappropriate expenditure by Mental Health Aberdeen charity before its sudden closure in July 2025. The Office of Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR) is now assessing multiple public complaints about the 75-year-old organization.
Key revelations include:
• Charity spent £475,000 on Aberdeen city centre property purchase
• Multiple loans taken from Handelsbanken PLC between 2021-2024
• Sudden closure on July 24, 2025 with no prior warning to service users
• CEO Graeme Kinghorn’s ambitious expansion plans just months before collapse
• Chair Mark Lough cited ‘complex circumstances’ and financial pressures
Mental Health Aberdeen provided crucial services including counselling, youth support in schools, and community projects across Aberdeen and Northeast Scotland. The charity’s collapse left vulnerable clients without support and raised serious questions about financial management in the charity sector.
This investigation exposes how a respected mental health charity that operated for three-quarters of a century suddenly imploded, leaving behind allegations of mismanagement and inappropriate spending. What really happened behind closed doors at Mental Health Aberdeen?
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