The Charity Commission has opened a statutory inquiry into Jole Rider Friends, after identifying significant regulatory concerns around its financial controls and with regard to the administration, governance and management of the charity by the trustees
The charity’s objects are to advance education, in particular by providing or assisting in the provision of facilities and equipment at educational establishments in Africa, largely bicycles. It is based in Gloucestershire and has reported an annual income of around £200,000.
The trustees have failed to submit their charity’s annual accounts on time for the last two financial years; the charity is currently 257 days overdue in submitting their 2016 accounts. The charity’s 2015 accounts contained an independent examiner’s report which highlighted concerns surrounding potentially unauthorised payments and the charity’s stock control arrangements.
The Commission stresses that opening an inquiry is not in itself a finding of wrongdoing. The inquiry will examine the issues in detail and, once concluded, the Commission will publish a report detailing the actions and outcomes.
Report by Pat Sweet
