The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award (DofE) does not “technically” own its Windsor head office, due to “an historic administrative error” dating back 13 years.
The charity admitted the error in its most recent set of accounts for the year to March 2021, which were filed with the Charity Commission at the end of January.
Under the section on post balance sheet events, the accounts say: “We have identified an historic administrative error regarding the transfer of ownership of our head office, Gulliver House, long leasehold interest when the charity changed its legal identity in 2008 from a limited company to a Royal Charter corporation.
“At present, the charity is not technically the legal owner of Gulliver House. Our lawyers have advised that it is highly likely this matter can be resolved, and the legal title of Gulliver House transferred to the charity. Considering substance over form, we have decided to keep the property in the accounts at cost.”
The charity’s auditors also noted the discrepancy in their report, but said: “Our opinion is not modified in this respect of this matter.”
DofE lists Gulliver’s House as a long leasehold property worth £2.6m in the accounts. The charity also says it entered into a new property lease agreement from August 2021 with total commitments of £443,000 over the three-year lease period.
In 2006, coinciding with the 50th anniversary of the charity, the Queen presented the DofE with a royal charter. Being constituted by a royal charter is an alternative legal form and charities still need to follow charity law, but do not need to file documents with Companies House.
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