The Charity Commission has opened statutory inquiries into four charities linked to Barnabas Aid, which it is also investigating.
In September, the regulator put a spending restriction on Barnabas Aid after identifying legal and financial concerns of a possible “£15m hole” in the Christian charity’s global network.
It has now opened inquiries into TBF Trust, Oxford Centre for Religion in Public Life, Reconciliation Trust and Servants Fellowship International (SFI) after it identified possible risks due to their shared premises, trustees or founders and the flow of funds with Barnabas Aid.
As part of the “Barnabas Family”, TBF Trust, Reconciliation Trust and SFI are grant-giving charities that advance and promote the Christian faith, while Oxford Centre for Religion in Public Life promotes religious harmony for the benefit of the public.
Following concerns that charitable funds from the four charities could be at risk, the regulator has frozen the bank accounts of Reconciliation Trust.
It has also restricted any transactions above £2,500 made by the other three charities, meaning that trustees will be required to gain written consent from the commission.
The inquiries will seek to determine if the charities have a relationship with Barnabas Aid’s US-based subsidiary Nexcus, which was formerly known as Christian Relief International and served as the charity’s international office.
It will assess if charitable assets are at risk, trustees’ compliance with their legal duties, risk to charity property and or any misconduct and mismanagement by the trustees of the charities.
A spokesperson for Barnabas Aid told Civil Society: “We are committed to openness and transparency and welcome the Charity Commission’s extension to their statutory inquiry into other parts of the Barnabas Family and interconnected Christian ministries.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the entities listed in the Charity Commission’s statement have always formed part of the Barnabas Family. It is right that the Charity Commission has expanded its work to include these organisations.”
Original inquiry
Barnabas Aid, registered as Barnabas Fund with the commission, is under investigation for the allegations of unauthorised payments to trustees and related parties with claims suggesting that the charity’s founders have inappropriate influence over how it operates.
Founders Patrick and Rosemary Sookhdeo previously welcomed the commission’s inquiry into Barnabas Aid.
Caroline Kerslake, a trustee of Barnabas Aid, TBF Trust, Oxford Centre for Religion in Public Life and Reconciliation Trust also welcomed the investigation into Barnabas Aid.
She told Civil Society: “As a trustee, I have complete confidence in the Charity Commission and am hoping that, after its investigation, the whole board will be able to move forward.”
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