The Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator has concluded its inquiry into complaints against ex-service personnel charity the Mark Wright Project, finding that while it is committed to its aims it must make urgent changes to avoid regulatory action.

The charity was set up in 2009 to help ex-service men and women overcome the physical and mental consequences of conflict. It was founded by Robert and Jem Wright, the parents of Mark, a paratrooper who died in Afghanistan in 2006.

In March 2011 the charity recorded an income of £203,810. At September 2011 the organisation had 198 clients considered ‘friends of the Mark Wright Project’.

The allegations

Between September and November 2011, OSCR received a series of complaints about the charity – some from beneficiaries, others by individuals close to the organisation.

Out of these, the following allegations were assessed as requiring further inquiry:

• That the charity trustees were seriously failing in their duty of care towards staff and potentially vulnerable service users
• That the charity trustees were failing to work collectively in the best interests of the charity and were not addressing complaints about the alleged intimidating behaviour of one of the directors, Robert Wright
• That the charity was not operating in accordance with its governing document, in this case the memorandum and articles of association.

On 12 September 2011 a representative of the charity contacted OSCR to ask for help in dealing with challenges it was facing. OSCR opened an inquiry the next day.

The findings

OSCR identified “several instances where Wright’s actions fell short of the standards we would expect from a charity trustee”. It found that boundaries between Wright’s personal interest and the interests of the charity and its beneficiaries had been crossed.

The regulator also found that staff and directors were insufficiently trained to deal with the needs of clients who had suffered conflict trauma stress, and that the charity had not followed appropriate procedures when dismissing and recruiting staff.

OSCR further felt that there was “a significant breakdown” in relationships and trust between former staff and the board of directors, certain directors, and some beneficiaries.

Considerations and recommendations

OSCR made a series of interim recommendations to the Mark Wright Project between March and May 2012. The charity in turn provided the regulator with updates of its progress with these, and on 5 September its board provided an outline of the action it had taken and planned to take.

In its concluding inquiry report, OSCR has made eight recommendations. Among these are: continuing to strengthen the board; appointing a new chair and "critically examining" Robert Wright's involvement; developing robust recruitment policies and clarifying its governance structure.

The charity reponds

The Mark Wright Project said in a stament by its directors that the OSCR report's findings were "largely accurate" and that many of the recommendations had already been put into practice.

"The remainder are due to take effect in the coming quarter, with ongoing monitoring of standards throughout the charities activities being a key component of strategy," it added. 

The full OSCR report can be found here on the regulator’s website.