AN investigation has been launched into a Darlington-based organisation claiming to be making the wishes of disabled people come true.

Concerns have been raised about Make My Wish, a company launched earlier this year by Darlington man Aaron Jack.

The Northern Echo understands that Mr Jack is being investigated by Trading Standards, who were alerted by police in response to a complaint from a member of the public.

Mr Jack denies misleading the public after making repeated appeals for donations and approaching local businesses with fundraising requests, leading some to believe that Make My Wish was a charity.

Bearing an almost identical name – but no connection whatsoever – to the Make a Wish Foundation, the organisation appears to be sharing that charity’s mission to help make the wishes of disabled and vulnerable people come true.

However, while it is identified in publicity materials as a registered charity, the number provided instead relates to documents filed with Companies House, where Make My Wish – which also has a trading arm – is listed as a private limited company.

In a bid to raise money, Mr Jack contacted businesses by letter asking them to hold fundraising events on the company’s behalf.

One Darlington business withdrew its support after becoming aware that Make My Wish was not a charity.

A spokesman for the firm said: “We received a letter that seemed legitimate and rang Mr Jack, who presented as if he was working for a charity.

“He seemed quite professional at first but then tried to sell us things, even though we were doing him a favour.

“It’s fundamentally wrong to act as though you’re a charity making vulnerable people’s wishes come true.

“It’s also diverting funds from legitimate charities who will lose out on money.”

Mr Jack admitted that the organisation had not yet worked with disabled people in the capacity described on its website and said he had made it clear that he was not operating a charity, although he would like to if he could raise enough funds. He also denied making posters containing claims that Make My Wish is a charity.

He said that the name of the organisation was chosen because, like Make a Wish, it aims to make people’s dreams come true and that it was not intended to mislead.

Mr Jack dismissed complaints about his conduct as the result of a “vendetta” against him linked to his previous business.

Make My Wish is among several ventures to have been launched with Mr Jack at the helm, with his prior business, the Community Care Agency, having been struck off months after it too was investigated by the authorities.

Previously, he offered financial planning services with Aaron the Money Saver Limited and has repeatedly appealed to the public to turn to his companies for help with advice on benefits, debt management and sexual health matters.

However, The Northern Echo understands that Mr Jack – who claims that he was merely ‘signposting’ – is not qualified or accredited to offer such services.

Darlington councillor Anne-Marie Curry, who is listed as a former director at the Community Care Agency, described Mr Jack as having “good intentions” but suggested he may lack knowledge of the formalities of running a charitable organisation.

Charities in the area have warned the public to be vigilant when handing over donations and to check the legitimacy of those they are considering supporting.

Gillian Peel, chief executive at Age UK Darlington and North Yorkshire, said: “All legitimate charities, small and large, will be listed on the Charity Commission’s website either by name or their charity number.

“It is always a concern when anyone poses as a legitimate charity because there will be no checks or governance in place to ensure that vulnerable people are not left exposed.”

Inspector Chris Knox, of Durham Police, said: “A member of the public approached us in relation to this business venture.

“There has been no criminal offences identified at this stage and we have passed the case to Trading Standards officers to investigate.”

A spokeswoman for the Make a Wish Foundation confirmed that the organisation had no links to Make My Wish.