A charity that runs a foodbank in Blackpool is being investigated over accounting and governance rule breaches.
The Charity Commission announced today that it had opened a statutory inquiry into Blackpool’s Voice, which registered in 2020 and provides clothes, food and other provisions to those in poverty.
Blackpool’s Voice has failed to submit any accounting information to the commission since it registered, the regulator said, and has been running with an insufficient number of trustees since January.
According to its listing on the register of charities, Blackpool’s Voice currently has two trustees.
The commission said it repeatedly contacted the charity to provide advice and guidance but has now opened a formal investigation after trustees failed to take action.
Its inquiry, which opened on 21 October, will examine the administration, governance and management of the charity.
In particular, the commission will assess the trustees’ preparation and filing of the charity’s accounts and annual returns.
It will investigate whether the charity has a sufficient number of willing and capable trustees.
The commission will also look at whether potential conflicts of interest and connected party transactions have been properly managed and whether there has been any unauthorised personal benefit.
And the regulator will consider the extent to which the trustees have complied with previously issued regulatory guidance and orders.
In February last year, the Blackpool Gazette reported that the charity had been forced to close its foodbank due to a lack of donations.
Civil Society has contacted Blackpool’s Voice for comment.
