Charity Commission publishes report on inquiry into Birmingham education charity

Article summary

The Charity Commission has published the report of its statutory inquiry into the Birmingham Education Trust. The Commission has found that management of the charity by the trustees, who are husband and wife, had fallen below the expected standard. The inquiry revealed that the charity had been subject to financial mismanagement and poor record keeping and that the trustees were unable to account for the charity’s expenditure, with only one annual return filed in 23 years. The Commission has noted that the trustees were in breach of the charity’s governing document as only one trustee acted as signatory to the charity’s bank account, and one of the trustees was employed as head teacher at the school. The trustees’ daughters were employed as teachers at the school, and it was uncertain whether this decision was in the best interests of the charity. The Commission found that due to the trustees’ relationship, they were unable to manage...