Charity is probed for ‘serious financial concerns’

A BRADFORD educational charity which runs a school in the city and medical facilities in Pakistan is being investigated by the Charities Commission as a result of “serious regulatory concerns”.

The Commission said there is concern that there is, or has been, “misconduct or mismanagement” in the administration of Charr Yarr Welfare Foundation Limited. A statutory inquiry examining both the trustees’ governance of the charity and its future viability has now been opened.

Issues date back to 2016 and 2017, when accounts were submitted late. Then, in April 2018, the Commission examined financial concerns, including the charity being unable to provide receipts for £27,200 of grants made to a partner charity based in Pakistan.

Regulatory guidance and an action plan were issued, however the trustees again failed to file accounts for the financial year ending August 2018 on time. The trustees were put on notice and advised that this was evidence of mismanagement and/or misconduct in the administration of the charity. An official warning was issued in January, but since then, the trustees have failed to submit required outstanding financial information and a report on the progress of the action plan.

A statement from the Charity Commission said: “Despite extensive engagement and attempts to put corrective measures in place, the Commission continues to have serious concerns about the way the charity is run.”

The Yorkshire Post contacted Charr Yarr Welfare Foundation for comment.