The Charity Commission has appointed interim managers to manage the property and affairs at The Jalloh Charitable Trust (1145466) and The Deacons Charitable Trust (1142038).

Interim managers are appointed as a temporary and protective measure where the Commission has identified misconduct and/or mismanagement in the administration of a charity, or where there is a need to protect a charity’s property.

Statutory inquiries were opened into the two charities, which share connected trustees, earlier in 2019. The inquiries were prompted by concerns about the trustees’ compliance with charity law, related party transactions and the management of conflicts of interest.

The inquiries continue to have concerns about a number of serious regulatory issues at the charities, including substantial outstanding loans to a trustee, and have therefore appointed Karen Spears and Steven Law of RSM Restructuring Advisory LLP as interim managers of both charities.

Karen Spears and Steven Law will carry out their work to the exclusion of the trustees, in order to allow the charities to be properly managed.

The inquiries continue, and the Commission intends to report on its findings on conclusion. Reports of previous inquiries are available on GOV.UK.

Ends

Notes to Editors:

1. Section 76(3)(g) of the Charities Act 2011 gives the Commission power to appoint interim managers to a charity.
2. The appointments are a temporary and protective power that will be reviewed at regular intervals. They will continue until the Commission makes a further order for its variation or discharge.

A Foreign Office spokesperson said:

The UK is disappointed that Belarus’ parliamentary elections did not meet international democratic standards, according to the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and Council of Europe.

We are also concerned by the reports from the OSCE that the election environment was overly restrictive, did not provide for any meaningful competition, and that fundamental democratic rights were curbed.

We urge the government of Belarus to work to address these issues to strengthen Belarus’ democracy and to allow voters and candidates full involvement in the democratic process.

Published 20 November 2019

[unable to retrieve full-text content]Latest information and actions from the Education and Skills Funding Agency for academies, schools, colleges, local authorities and further education providers.

Simon Cheng was a valued member of our team. We were shocked and appalled by the mistreatment he suffered while in Chinese detention, which amounts to torture.

I summoned the Chinese Ambassador to express our outrage at the brutal and disgraceful treatment of Simon in violation of China’s international obligations. I have made clear we expect the Chinese authorities to investigate and hold those responsible to account.

The FCO is working to support Simon and his fiancée, including to come to the UK.

Falmouth coastguard received a radio mayday broadcast at 5.18am from the two people on board the 70-feet yacht, reporting that the vessel was 21 nautical miles north of the Isles of Scilly and the on-board electrics and pump had failed due to the incoming water.

It meant that they could not stop the water flow, which continued to increase.

The crew, who were wearing life jackets, launched the life raft, climbed aboard and abandoned the yacht after sending their mayday message.

The coastguard search and rescue helicopter (R924) from Newquay and the St Ives RNLI all-weather lifeboat were sent to the rescue by Falmouth Coastguard. A nearby fishing vessel, Cornishman, had also heard the radio distress message and went to offer help.

The search and rescue helicopter from Newquay arrived at 6.15am and quickly spotted the two men in their life raft. They were winched into the aircraft and airlifted to the helicopter’s base at Newquay for medical checks and welfare support. Thankfully, neither of the two were injured and made same-day plans to get home.

The FV Cornishman collected the now abandoned life raft and advised Falmouth coastguard that the yacht sank.

Jon Wood, maritime operations specialist, Falmouth coastguard, said: “The crew took exactly the right course of action. Their immediate mayday call on VHF channel 16 enabled us to pinpoint their position and get help to them quickly. Wearing life jackets and deploying their life raft increased the likelihood of their survival as the yacht sank beneath them.

“We would like to acknowledge the prompt, professional response of the helicopter and lifeboat as well as the crew of the FV Cornishman in this fast-moving incident.”

REscue footage