The Charity Commission has opened a statutory inquiry into The Rav Chesed Trust, based in north London, for repeatedly defaulting on the submission of annual accounting information
The charity’s stated aims include debt counselling, and also the relief of poverty and advancement of religious education. Until recently it was part of the commission’s class inquiry into charities that have defaulted on two or more occasions on their legal obligations to submit annual accounting information to the regulator.
The Rav Chesed Trust came out of that inquiry earlier this year because it had submitted the outstanding accounting information for the financial years ending 31 July 2011, 2012 and 2013. Its accounts for 2011 were more than two years late.
However, the Charity Commission says that despite the recent enforcement action to ensure the trustees were compliant, the charity failed to submit its annual accounts and returns for the latest financial year which were due by 31 May 2015, but not received until 13 July.
Commission records show that the charity’s accounts, reports and annual returns have been submitted late for every year starting from the year ending 31 July 2005, and have only been submitted after the commission has taken action.
It says that due to the trustees continuing non-compliance with their legal duties in respect of accounting requirements the regulator considers these concerns require dealing with in a statutory inquiry.
This will look at the administration of the charity by the trustees, particularly in relation to whether the trustees have fulfilled their legal duties and responsibilities as charity trustees. It will also examine the financial management of the charity to determine whether the trustees have failed to properly manage the charity’s funds and therefore, have put the charity’s funds at risk.
Since opening the inquiry, the charity has now submitted the outstanding information for the year ending 31 July 2014. These show income of £479,347 and spending of £479,448, broadly in line with previous years’ accounts.
The Commission will publish a report once its investigation is completed.
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