A fundraiser to replace Brendan Nwabichie's car, which was destroyed during far-right riots in Middlesborough, has been marred by confusion and controversy. Originally set up by Brendan's employer, Clare's Care UK Ltd, the GoFundMe page was meant to help replace the vehicle he had saved up for over 12 months.
After Brendan's car was torched in a racist attack on August 3, his employer created the fundraiser to help him recover. Brendan expressed gratitude for the support, hoping it would help him regain some normalcy.
However, the fundraiser has faced several setbacks. Organisers first promised to refund everyone's money after backlash over how the funds would be allocated. The initial plan was to distribute the extra money to staff who missed shifts, but this changed once the fundraiser exceeded its £3,000 goal, reaching £60,000. Updates then announced that surplus funds would be given to local churches and community groups involved in the cleanup.
The situation further escalated when Clare's Care announced that £28,000 would go to Brendan, while the rest would be split between affected staff, local charities, and police officers. This led to further confusion and criticism on social media, with public figures like Azeem Rafiq and James O'Brien expressing their disapproval.
In response to the turmoil, Vanessa Jemwa, a social media manager, launched a new GoFundMe campaign to replace the car, citing the unfairness of the situation. Her campaign has raised over £6,000 so far. Brendan has expressed appreciation for the ongoing support, but has not yet confirmed whether he will access the funds from the original campaign.
