The Charity Commission has opened a compliance case into a residential care provider in Northamptonshire after concerns were raised about unpaid taxes and money paid to a private company.
According to its latest accounts, William Blake House owed HMRC £1.54m as of June last year.
In its financial statement, charity trustees said they were “concerned” the delay in paying HMRC debt relating to PAYE and national insurance would result in further penalties.
The charity is facing a winding up petition from HMRC and was told by the High Court to pay off its debts last month, the Guardian reported this week.
Concerns have also been raised about payments from William Blake House to Van Kruger Consulting, a private company run by the charity’s chair, Bushra Hamid.
According to its accounts, William Blake House and Van Kruger Consulting agreed a 10-year project in 2017 to develop seminars and digital educational materials, which have not yet gone live.
Associated costs related to this project amounted to £649,000 as of September 2024, according to the charity’s accounts.
In October 2024, the trustees agreed that the costs incurred by the project should be recharged to another charity called Steiner Friends.
Steiner Friends and William Blake House have the same two trustees, chair Hamid and Paula Allen.
A third trustee of both charities left both organisations this week, according to documents filed with Companies House.
Hamid also chairs the Shoosmith Gallery, of which Allen is also a trustee and is paid £30,000 per annum according to the charity’s latest accounts for the year to March 2025.
A group of families also expressed concerns about the charity, which cares for their disabled relatives.
“We need regulators and politicians to act with urgency to hold these individuals to account. Our loved ones, and the wonderful staff who care for them, must be protected,” they said.
A Charity Commission spokesperson said: “All charities should use their resources efficiently and effectively and we publish guidance to help charity trustees understand these duties.
“We are aware of potential governance concerns at William Blake House Northants and have opened a regulatory compliance case to engage with the charity’s trustees about these matters.”
Council in discussion with charity
West Northamptonshire Council also expressed concerns about the charity.
“We were deeply concerned to learn about the situation at William Blake House, and we are in ongoing discussions with the organisation,” cabinet member Laura Couse said.
“We aim to understand its financial position and the potential impact on its residents.”
Since 2022, the charity’s spending has exceeded its income. In 2023-24, the last recorded year, its expenditure was £3.85m against an income of £3.7m.
William Blake House told the Guardian it had resumed regular PAYE payments to HMRC in October 2024 and that it was planning to settle its tax debts by selling land to a developer.
Civil Society has asked Van Kruger Consulting and William Blake House Northants for comment.
