[dropcap]B[/dropcap]arnardo’s has splashed out the huge sum on the ‘Made in Chelsea’ star - whose real name is Alexandra Felstead - in an attempt to attract more people to follow the aid organisation on its social networking site and visit their UK stores. A message on the charity’s official Twitter account read: “Our retail trading arm operates in commercial environment & is paying £3k for @BinkyFelstead campaign (sic)”
This comes after one publication reported Binky was being paid £20,000 for the work by the charity, but the 24-year-old star branded that “total lies”.
The report came after the brunette beauty shared a picture of herself on Instagram holding up a sign which asked her 639,000 followers to follow the official Barnardo’s Instagram account.
The caption read: “Something special happening with @barnardosretailtoday ... Follow their account and watch this space! (sic)”
Barnardo’s - which supports vulnerable children - also released a statement insisting it “does not usually pay celebrities” who work with them and took a “business decision” to acquire the reality star’s support.
The organisation said: “Barnardo’s retail shops are part of the charity’s trading arm and as such operate in a commercial environment.
“We are soon to launch a new campaign to encourage much-needed donations to our shops.
“We took a business decision to acquire the support of Alexandra Felstead to bring the appeal to a new and wider audience. We expect the campaign to increase donations significantly and will be monitoring its impact on our sales.
“Barnardo’s does not usually pay celebrities who support our work with the most vulnerable children across the UK.”
Despite the charity’s clarification, both Binky and Barnardo’s still came under fire from some social networking users.
Twitter user KLC2978 wrote: “that’s disgraceful. Waste of £ by Barnardo’s & she should have done for free! No charitable spirit in Binky (sic)
woodmally1979 posted: “Utter disgusting of @barnardos ... spending peoples hard earned donations like that. (sic)”
