Probes have been launched by the Charity Commission over the last year into eight charities subject to its double defaulter class inquiry, into those that regularly fail to submit their accounts on time.

Investigations are being carried out after further problems emerged including trustees failing to manage conflicts of interest or comply with their legal duties.

This includes looking at Middlesbrough based residents’ advice charity, Streets Ahead for Information, over trustees’ management of conflicts of interest and around payments to connected parties.

Operational concerns have prompted a probe into Flic-Flac Gymnastics Club, while “serious” governance and management concerns sparked an investigation into the Leicestershire Centre for Integrated Living.

A failure to comply with an order from the regulator to file its accounts on time, after submitting these late for five consecutive years, has seen an investigation launched into Gifting Humanity, which provides relief to homeless people and those impacted by natural and other kinds of disaster.

Late filing over the same number of years has sparked a probe into Walsall Wood Community Football Club.

Trustees, who “have consistently demonstrated that they were either unwilling or unable to comply with their legal duties” has seen an investigation launched into Plymouth Islamic Education Trust, which also failed to file accounts on time for five years.

Meanwhile, a failure to submit accounts on time for four years in a row has initiated a further probe into The Order of Friars Minor Conventual. This religious charity dates back to the 13th century.

Elsewhere, trustees’ failure to comply with their legal duties is a factor in an investigation being launched into grant making charity C J M Charitable Trust.

Over the period detailed in latest Charity Commission figures the regulator has revealed that 36 charities have submitted their outstanding documents, with almost £29m of charitable income now accounted for.

Two charities looked at were found to have ceased to exist and have been removed from the charities register, or are in the process of being removed. These are Meals on Wheels in Stoke on Trent and Thanet Community Transport Association.

“Failure to submit the annual documents to the Commission may be a criminal offence,” said the regulator.

“The Commission also regards it as misconduct and/or mismanagement in the administration of the charity.

“Providing timely, accurate and informative financial information that will help funders, donors, beneficiaries, and others to understand the charity and its work, will encourage trust and confidence in it.”

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