There have been a few posts asking about HINUK and so, as I've got fuck all else to do, I've tried to find out as much as I can about it.
The individual behind it is a James Gordon Adams who, according to the listing at Companies House is 29.
The address given for the company in the listing is Suite 13, Whitehall Place C/O Future Insight Consultancy Ltd, 47 The Terrace, Gravesend, Kent, England, DA12 2DL. Future Insight Consultancy Ltd seems to be a firm of accountants, so I searched for them in the FSA's database (in order to offer financial services in the UK, a company must – by law – be registered with the FSA, FIC Ltd is not).
The address on the HINUK website is different to the one in the CH listing (Suite 3 Peel House, 30 The Downs, Altrincham, United Kingdom, WA14 2PX). Under the Companies Act 2000, the address on all media and other material related to the company MUST be the same as the address filed with CH. All materials must also display the company's registration number (there's no reg number on the HINUK website). What the fuck is it with all these dodgy CICs in Kent…?
I searched for the Altrincham address using Google Maps and could find no HINUK at that address (there is a CIC at the address, but it's operated by a woman who I was able to easily locate thanks to her uncommon surname).
When you visit the website – which is littered with grammar and spelling errors – you're immediately confronted with a video featuring a middle-aged man waxing lyrical about how HINUK's "tremendous support" basically saved his life but at no point in the 96-second video does he elaborate on what that "tremendous support" actually was.
HINUK claims to offer support for "homeless people with PTSD" and so, as I am a homeless person with PTSD (just because someone has a roof over their head doesn't mean they're not homeless), I sent an email to [info@homelessinneeduk.org](mailto:info@homelessinneeduk.org) enquiring about what support they offered but – not unsurprisingly – to date I've yet to receive a reply.
The website repeatedly mentions their "dedicated team" but, according to the CH listing, it doesn't exist, there is only Adams.
When you click on the 'need help' link, you're taken to a page where you're informed that
For those in immediate need, we offer a range of resources including counselling sessions, accommodation and assistance with housing applications. We understand that the journey to stability is not a straight path, and we are committed to walking alongside each individual every step of the way.
Homeless in Need UK was started to help all those suffering from these issues, as we realize the difficulty of being in that situation and the reality of getting out of it, which can seem impossible. But we are here to help and support anyone and everyone who is in need.
If you are concerned about someone who has issues with being homeless on the street or suffering from PTSD please contact on the number below.
The number given is a mobile number which I've not been able to ascertain exists as I don't have access to a phone.
It continues:
If you want to help and support us and represent a registered charity who really understands our values and what we are trying to achieve, please contact us via phone
Let's be very clear here – HINUK IS NOT a registered charity, it's a community interest company (CIC).
They claim to
aim to reply the same day to book appointments and speak to anyone who wants to help us on our mission to help the local communities most in need.
As I said, I have emailed them, I did so on 16/07 and, as of today (01/08), I have yet to receive a response.
At the end of all that, there's a button labelled 'application form' but, rather than taking you to a secure webform, it downloads a Word document. HINUK is supporting homeless people, yet it assumes that they:
🔴Have access to a computer
🟠Have access to the internet and can download documents
🟡Have access to a printer
This is the first page of that document:
So they’re now assuming that:
🟢The homeless person has a phone
🔵The homeless person has an email address
🟣That they have an address (what are they supposed to put…? Bench in Holland Park…? Alley down the side of Tesco…?)
It’s bizarre that they’re asking if the person has PTSD, because I thought that was their whole MO – helping homeless people with PTSD.
This is the second – and final – part of the form:
So it now assumes that the homeless person has:
🔴ID
🟠A bank account
They don’t state what kind of ID is acceptable – and they’re asking someone to send their full bank details on a form through the post – to an address at which HINUK is not located – which shows a blatant disregard for security. What if the person is able to do all this, but has no money for a stamp…?
Also, how do they expect a homeless person to provide them with their ID (if they have any)…? Even if the form was a webform, how are they expecting someone to upload it…?
One thing I think we can safely assume about Adams is that he's not really all that bright.
They do at least include their registration number at the bottom of the form.
And that’s really all I’ve been able to find out; it’s proving impossible to find out who ‘James Gordon Adams’ is because, obviously, ‘James Adams’ is a very common name. The Walter Mitty Hunters Club won’t assist because there’s no evidence that Adams has ever claimed to be in the Armed Forces (though there are allusions to the Armed Forces on the website, and there are a fair few men in fatigues in the photo gallery, all standing next to a massive HINUK banner and making a ‘thumbs up’ gesture – I wonder if any of them are 'Walts'…?). I really, REALLY want to know who the man in the video is but, obviously, it’s impossible to search the web for people. I'm sort of invested in this now, but I can’t seem to get any further.
So it’s basically not much more than fuck all but, obviously, nobody should be giving any money to HINUK. If anyone else thinks they can do better than me, please do – let’s see what we can find out about James Adams – who and where he is for a start, and what really is Future Insight Consultancy Ltd…?
by ManikShamanik
7 comments
Wow, well done for everything you have found out so far!
Super interesting and I share all of your concerns, it truly does look and smell like a scam with every additional layer. In particular that form to complete has a whole host of red flags, whilst not my specialism there also seems to be a big GDPR issue here, I wonder if the ICO would be interested? There doesn’t seem to be any form of words about how they store the data you supply and what it’s purpose is for. Requesting details of medical diagnosis / conditions is (AFAIK) classed as special data which brings additional controls. Special category data cannot be disclosed by a third party without explicit consent from the person (with a few obvious exceptions).
The request for bank details I agree is another red flag. Surely actual charities in this field would typically arrange e.g. Accommodation that they pay for, or provide a pre paid card for someone to buy food and other necessities.
Don’t get me started on the ID request!
It’s definitely more than fuck all because a legitimate charity wouldn’t have SO MANY red flags, that you’ve helpfully confirmed.
Only one thing I would add here:
Presuming you are looking to access the form etc, you could go to a local library, download the form and print it there. Some libraries would be able to do this, obviously depends where/ when etc.
But, yeah, in essence I would avoid these lot the same as all the other schemes ‘James Adams’ has touched.
This is Bloody Brilliant!
I’m going to repost on FB.
Well done,you ! 👍
Well researched and thank you for sharing. This is despicable, committing fraud on the backs of the vulnerable
James Gordon Adams looks like a squirrel! 🐿️
I think the reason the Homeless in Need website is full of spelling errors is that he used AI to write it and AI spellings are US spellings –
So Homeless in Need went from “we offer temporary accommodation to individuals in urgent need, utilizing (sic) both hostels and hotel rooms” as stated on their website to “For those in immediate need, we offer a range of resources including counselling sessions, accommodation and assistance with housing applications”, which is very different and clearly a scam.
Hostels are paid by housing benefit, so their claim that they’re paying for hotel rooms is a lie.
Very strange that instead of paying for the “hotel” directly, they asked for your bank details. No genuine charity would ever do that. And nobody in their right mind is going to give Homeless in Need their bank details.
James Gordon Adams deliberately puts so many obstacles so that nobody will apply for the fund – ID, bank account, having to print the form because it can’t be filled in online – then he can pay himself all the fundraising income as a salary.
Most homeless people do have a phone and email address, though internet access is at free wifi places or a public computer at the library.
Homeless veterans with PTSD are priority need homeless under Homelessness (Priority Need for Accommodation) Order 2002 (5)(2) and also under Housing Act 1996 Part VII 189 1c because they’re vulnerable due to mental health.
If you / they make a homeless application to their council, they have to provide temporary accommodation the same day, usually an ensuite room in a house, or a hotel room if none are available, and then rehouse them in a council or housing association flat.
For anybody on benefits, the rent of the temporary accommodation is paid by housing benefit.
So if Homeless in Need UK’s claims that they get homeless veterans a room in a hotel were true, they’re actually depriving homeless veterans with PTSD of the social housing they’re entitled to, so the opposite of helping them. Of course, they know that the average person walking past them and giving them money has no idea of the homelessness legislation.
[reddit.com/r/HomelessLondon/comments/1lkxuog/single_homeless_in_london_how_to_get_rehoused_by](http://reddit.com/r/HomelessLondon/comments/1lkxuog/single_homeless_in_london_how_to_get_rehoused_by)
An accountancy firm does not need to be registered with the FCA (the FSA was disbanded in 2013)
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