The Charity Commission, has opened a statutory inquiry into funds
held by and raised in connection with Sikh Youth UK. Sikh Youth
UK is not a registered charity, however the Commission has
jurisdiction due to the funds being charitable.
In October 2018, West Midlands Police notified the Commission of
concerns relating to the organisation’s receipt and use of
charitable funds. The Commission exercised its powers under
Section 52 of the Charities Act 2011 to obtain copies of bank
statements. The Commission’s analysis of the information obtained
to date has identified a number of regulatory concerns which
warrant further investigation.
The Commission therefore opened a statutory inquiry on 15
November 2018. The Commission has been unable to announce its
investigation before now so as to avoid prejudicing criminal
proceedings.
The inquiry is examining:
- whether those in control of charitable funds have properly
exercised their legal duties and responsibilities under charity
law in the administration of charitable funds held by the
organisation;
- the financial management of the organisation;
- whether there has been private benefit to the trustees of the
organisation;
- the organisation’s partnerships with other charities;
- the conduct of the trustees
The inquiry will also examine the organisation’s status in order
to determine whether it is a charity in law. Those running the
organisation have not applied to register with the Commission*.
It is the Commission’s policy, after it has concluded an inquiry,
to publish a report detailing what issues the inquiry looked at,
what actions were undertaken as part of the inquiry and what the
outcomes were. Reports of previous inquiries by the Commission
are available on GOV.UK.
Ends
Notes to Editors
- The Charity Commission is the independent regulator of
charities in England and Wales. To find out more about our work
see the about us page
on GOV.UK.
- Search for charities on our check
charity tool.
- While the Commission has been working closely with West
Midlands Police throughout the inquiry, the Commission’s case is
separate from any investigation the police may be carrying out in
respect of the organisation, its trustees or individuals linked
to the organisation. The Commission does not investigate criminal
allegations; these should be reported to the police.
- The opening an inquiry is not in itself a finding of
wrongdoing.
- *If an organisation meets both the legal test for being a
charity and the registration criteria then its trustees are under
a legal requirement to apply to register with the Commission.
