Regulator to investigate four charities linked to scandal hit Christian charity

The Charity Commission had launched statutory inquiries into four charities linked to Christian charity The Barnabas Fund, which is already under investigation amid concerns around financial and conflict of interest allegations.

TBF Trust, Oxford Centre for Religion in Public Life, Reconciliation Trust and Servants Fellowship International are all being investigated. All are part of the “Barnabas Family” of charities, said the regulator.

The move has been taken “after identifying possible risks due to their shared premises, trustees and/or founders, and the flow of funds with Barnabas Fund”, it said.

Last year the Charity Commission restricted any transactions made over £4,000 by the Barnabas Fund while it investigated the charity.

The bank accounts of Reconciliation Trust have been frozen and transactions above £2,500 made by the other three charities have been restricted by the regulator.

Trustees will be required to gain written consent from the Commission for transactions above this sum.

“This follows concerns that charitable funds could be at risk”.

Allegations of unauthorised payments to current and former trustees and that the founders have “inappropriate control and influence” over its management, are among issues being looked at.

“Possible unmanaged” conflicts of interest at the charity, which is known as Barnabas Aid, will also be looked at, added the regulator.

Another issues being looked at is the charity’s relationship with Nexcus, a US-based subsidiary. The regulator wants to see if the charity’s structure and relationship with Nexcus “is in the best interests of the charity”.

The relationship of the four charities with Nexcus will also be looked at.

It had been reported by the Telegraph that there is a possible £15m “hole" in the finances of the charity’s global network, amid concerns over money allegedly given to its leaders.

According to its latest filed accounts for the financial year ending August 2023 it’s total income was £19.5m and it spent £18.2m. These accounts were submitted late by almost five months.