Untitled Document

STATEMENTS BY CHARITY COMMISSION

Humana - 297489 now TRAID (Textile Recycling For Aid and International Development)

"Following examinations in recent years of the accounts of Humana, the Commission discovered concerns relating to high administrative costs and the level of control over funds sent to Africa. Our inquiries led to the appointment of four additional independent trustees in order to strengthen the skill base of the trustee body. This inquiry has been completed but in order to ensure that the charity continues to act independently and its funds are properly applied the Commission will continue to monitor the charity."

The Small School at Red house Ltd

"In June 1996 the Charity Commission appointed a Receiver and Manager to run the charity because of concerns about its financial controls and administration. The report to the Commission from the Receiver and Manager indicated that substantial sums of charitable money had been unwisely spent on leases taken out on the school premises and on three yachts. It was estimated that hundreds of thousands of pounds had been lost to the charity.

As a result the trustees were suspended and removed by the Charity Commissioners and in July 1997 new trustees were appointed, some of whom were experienced in education standards. The Receiver and Manager was discharged and the Charity Commission closed the investigation.

On 20th December 1997 the new trustees approached the Charity Commission with serious concerns about the welfare and safety of the children at the schools and stated that the schools should not be allowed to continue to operate. This followed two inspections, one by the HMI and another by the two placing authorities - Norfolk and East Riding. The trustees and the Charity Commission agreed to appoint a Receiver and Manager to look at what could be done to save the future of the schools. This was done on the 23rd December.

The Receiver and Manager took professional advice from DFEE and the two placing authorities. His draft report was given to the Charity Commission on the 30th December and endorsed the trustees opinion. The Receiver and Manager recommended that there was no alternative other than to close the schools immediately.

The Receiver and Manager completed the closure of the schools in early 1998.

The Receiver and Manager has now been discharged (10 Feb 2000) and the control of the charity has been handed back to the trustees."