Concerns about child safeguarding were “brushed under the carpet” by a theatre charity, according to an inquiry report released by the Charity Commission yesterday.
In a statement released this morning, the Commission concluded that there was "misconduct and/or mismanagement" on the part of two former trustees at the Hinckley Concordia Association, which provides recreation and leisure facilities at the Concordia Theatre in Hinckley, Leicestershire.
The two trustees resigned in March and the Commission confirmed the new board had “co-operated with and assisted the commission and demonstrated a commitment to improving the governance within the charity particularly with regard to safeguarding issues”.
The Commission became involved with the charity in January 2014, following concerns that were raised about the employment of a staff member who was not deemed suitable to work with children.
The Charity Commission, together with Leicestershire Police and Leicestershire County Council’s Safeguarding Local Authority Designated Officer, opened a joint criminal inquiry in February this year, with the aim of investigating the administration, governance and management of the charity, particularly in relation to the safeguarding of its beneficiaries.
Further questions were also raised about possible misconduct on the part of the charity’s trustees.
As a result of the inquiry, the then chair voluntarily stepped down in February and two trustees resigned in March.
"Misconduct and mismanagement"
According to the Commission: “Two former trustees had knowledge that someone with criminal convictions that would affect their suitability from a safeguarding perspective had been employed at the theatre and did not deal responsibly and appropriately with the matter.
“One of those former trustees also failed to properly and responsibly deal with allegations of inappropriate behaviour by a member of staff. The consequence of these events was that the charity’s theatre productions involving children were effectively suspended by Leicestershire County Council.”
The inquiry concluded failings amounted to “misconduct and mismanagement in the administration of the charity by those two individuals” but confirmed that there was “no evidence to suggest that the other trustees had failed in their duties”.
The regulator also found that there were shortcomings in the charity’s Child Protection Policy in place at that time. But is also concluded that the charity’s problems had now been addressed.
Michelle Russell, director of investigations, monitoring and enforcement, at the Charity Commission said: “Trustees should ensure they take seriously and react promptly and responsibly to concerns raised. In this case, concerns raised were brushed under the carpet.
“We give credit to the current trustee board in how they responded to dealing with this and ensuring that public confidence in the charity is restored.”
The inquiry was formally closed yesterday and the charity’s theatre was issued with a new operating licence by Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council.
A spokesman from the Hinckley Concordia Theatre told Civil Society News today: “The Charity Commission has recognised the work carried out by the theatre in the early part of 2014 to strengthen its safeguarding procedures.
“We worked very closely with all of the relevant stakeholders – including Leicestershire Police and Leicestershire County Council – to put in place a much more robust set of child protection measures, in line with their advice and guidance.
“The new policies have now been in place for over six months, but we continue to liaise closely with the authorities to ensure that the Concordia Theatre remains a safe environment for all.”
