The Charity Commission has opened a statutory inquiry into a patient support and cancer awareness charity over concerns relating to financial controls and unauthorised trustee benefit.
Melanoma UK – Incorporating Factor 50 is based in Oldham and was set up in 2012 to raise awareness of malignant melanoma and to support patients.
The regulator has been engaging with the charity since September 2022 to examine serious concerns including unauthorised trustee benefit, financial controls and the level of charitable expenditure.
It remains concerned about these issues and escalated its engagement to a statutory inquiry on 2 May.
The Commission will examine the trustees’ administration, governance and management of the charity, with particular regard to the management of the charity’s finances and unauthorised trustee and related party benefits.
It will also look at whether any failing or weaknesses identified during the inquiry were due to misconduct or mismanagement by the trustees.
The Commission may extend the scope of the inquiry if additional regulatory issues emerge.
Gillian Nuttall, founder and chief executive of Melanoma UK, said: “We can confirm that we are cooperating fully with the Charity Commission. In the meantime, we will continue to support all the patients and families who need us.”
Patrons
Melanoma UK has three trustees – Adrian Carroll, Paula Bridge and David Bridge – according to the Charity Commission website, all of whom have been in post since 2015.
Labour MP Chris Bryant is one of its patrons while pop star Natasha Hamilton is an ambassador for the charity, according to its website.
The charity’s income was £265,000 in the year to August 2021.
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