Commission appoints interim managers to Island Health Trust

The Charity Commission has today appointed interim managers to Island Health Trust (1127466), a charity which promotes the provision of primary healthcare within the London boroughs of Tower Hamlets and Newham.

The Commission opened a statutory inquiry into the charity in November 2017 to examine concerns over the management of the charity, including the application of charitable funds and relevant decision making by the former trustees. The inquiry has focused on the expenditure of charitable funds on strategic development, a substantial part of which involved payments to a consultancy firm owned by the charity’s previous chair.

The inquiry has found that the issues under inquiry led to the direct loss of charitable funds and the options for recovery have not yet been sufficiently explored and considered. In the light of this, the Commission has exercised its legal powers to appoint Helen Briant and Lucy James of Trowers & Hamlins LLP as interim managers to the charity. They will independently examine and provide advice on potential claims against the former trustees. The current trustees will continue to remain responsible for matters relating to the operation, management and administration of the charity.

The Commission’s inquiry continues; it intends to publish a report setting out its findings on conclusion of the inquiry. Reports of previous inquiries are available on GOV.UK.

Ends

Notes to Editors

1. The Charity Commission is the independent regulator of charities in England and Wales. For more information see the about us page on GOV.UK
2. Section 76(3)(g) of the Charities Act 2011 gives the Commission power to appoint interim managers to a charity.
3. Interim managers are appointed where the Commission has identified misconduct or mismanagement, or there is a need to protect the charity’s property. It is a temporary and protective measure.