New inquiry announced into Aid and Peace Trust
The Charity Commission opened a statutory inquiry into Aid and Peace Trust (registered charity number 1140034) in May 2014.
The charity has objects to advance education in Bangladesh for young people who are socially or economically disadvantaged by providing or supporting practical and vocational training.
The Commission became aware of concerns about the governance and financial management of the charity in May 2013. The regulator engaged with the trustees, meeting with them twice and requesting the relevant information to conduct a books and records inspection. After a delay in their response, the trustees also failed to provide all the necessary information and did not adequately account for the majority of the charity’s expenditure. In addition, there were concerns that the charity may be operating outside the areas identified in its objects.
The regulator had growing concerns about the management of the charity and the on-going risks to charitable funds. As a result, a statutory inquiry was opened on 19 May 2014.
The inquiry will examine:
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the charity’s decision making processes and whether the trustees of the charity have taken steps to address the concerns previously highlighted by the Commission, particularly in respect of the charity’s accounting procedures and financial oversight
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compliance with the charity’s governing document and whether the objects are sufficiently broad to cover the activities of the charity
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the administration, governance and management of the charity by the trustees, particularly in respect of the day to day running of the charity
The purpose of an inquiry is to examine issues in detail and investigate and establish the facts so that the regulator can ascertain whether there has been misconduct and mismanagement; establish the extent of the risk to the charity’s property, beneficiaries or work; decide what action needs to be taken to resolve the serious concerns, if necessary using its legal powers to do so.
It is the Commission’s policy, after it has concluded an inquiry, to publish a report detailing what issues the inquiry looked at, what actions were undertaken as part of the inquiry and what the outcomes were. Reports of previous inquiries by the Commission are available on its website.
The charity’s details can be viewed on the Commission’s online charity search tool.
Ends
PR 77/14
For press enquiries contact the press office.
Notes to Editors
- The Charity Commission is the independent regulator of charities in England and Wales.
- Our mission is to be the independent registrar and regulator of charities in England and Wales, acting in the public’s interest, to ensure that: * charities know what they have to do * the public know what charities do * charities are held to account
- Section 46 of the Charities Act 2011 gives the Charity Commission the power to institute inquiries. The opening of an inquiry gives the Commission access to a range of protective and remedial powers.
- The Commission’s decision to announce the opening of a statutory inquiry is based on whether it is in the public interest to do so and with consideration of our objective to increase public trust and confidence in charities. Read more information on the Commission’s policy and factors taken into account when deciding to issue a press release.