The Charity Commission, the independent regulator of charities in England and Wales, has opened a statutory inquiry into Deen Team, over concerns about financial management at the charity, which was set up in 2014 but has yet to provide full information about its activities, which include work in Syria
Based near Manchester, the charity’s stated aim is the relief of poverty in the UK, in particular but not exclusively supporting homeless people and single parents, as well as the relief of financial need and suffering amongst victims of natural or other kinds of disaster.
The commission carried out a compliance visit to the charity in July 2014 as the charity was newly registered and operating in Syria, a high risk area. Following that visit the commission issued regulatory advice and guidance to the trustees in December 2014 and closed its case.
A year later, when the commission re-engaged with the trustees in to ensure that the regulatory advice and guidance had been implemented, it did not receive the information requested, and trustees have only partially complied with orders made by the commission to provide information and documentation.
The regulator says it has concerns regarding the financial management of Deen Team by the trustees, including that the charity does not appear to have had a bank account since February 2015 and it is in default with filing its first charity’s accounts with the commission.
The commission also has concerns relating to the governance of the charity, including that it appears to have been operating outside the terms of its governing document, and that there is a risk to the charity’s property as a result of inadequate financial controls and poor governance.
Once the inquiry has concluded the commission will publish its report on the issues identified.
