Governance concerns spark investigation into religious charity

The Charity Commission has launched a statutory inquiry into a religious charity that has failed to tackle concerns around its governance arrangements.

Burton on Trent based Jamia Hamfia Ghosia Mosque and Prince Street Resource Centre has been in talks with the regulator since March 2020 amid concerns that trustees had not been validly appointed.

The regulator is particularly concerned the charity’s governance issues are hampering efforts to support beneficiaries.

An action plan had been issued, including steps to ensure trustees were elected by the end of March this year.

But “the charity’s failure to implement the action plan and hold an election by the advised date has contributed to the Commission’s decision to escalate its engagement with the charity to an inquiry”, said the regulator.

The inquiry will investigate the administration, governance, and management of the charity, with a focus on ensuring trustees are appointed “through an open and fair election”.

It will also look to see if there has been any misconduct or mismanagement by trustees.

According to the charity register Jamia Hamfia Ghosia Mosque and Prince Street Resource Centre is 13 days late filing its accounts.

Its total income for the year ending March 2021 was £89,620 and its spending was £62,639. It has 12 trustees listed on the register.

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