Penny Appeal is quadrupling the resources it devotes to safeguarding globally, after it was made aware of safeguarding allegations at a local community-based organisation in The Gambia.
Last week the charity said it had been made aware of allegations and had submitted a serious incident report to the Charity Commission. Today it said it plans to quadruple its resources dedicated to safeguarding and is looking to bring in Barnardo's to conduct an independent review.
Harris Iqbal, interim chief executive of Penny Appeal, said: “I am deeply pained at the reports about the operations that Penny Appeal supports in The Gambia. These violate our most fundamental values. All of the children we support in The Gambia have now returned to their guardians, and are safe.
“Having recently been appointed to lead Penny Appeal, and as a father myself, there is nothing more important to me than our charity having the highest possible standards of care and safety.”
The charity will be “undertaking serious and substantive action”. This includes increasing its capacity in The Gambia, cooperating with and supporting investigations, and engaging with the Gambian government.
“We have asked an international agency to undertake this work on our behalf,” Iqbal said.
Barnardo’s to arrange an independent review of safeguarding across Penny Appeal
Iqbal added that Penny Appeal is in discussion with children’s charity Barnardo’s, to arrange an independent root-and-branch review of safeguarding arrangements across the whole of Penny Appeal.
“While we prioritise safeguarding across our global programmes, this independent expert review is necessary to strengthen us further,” Iqbal said.
He added: “We are quadrupling the resources we devote to safeguarding globally, and are committed to doing whatever is required to ensure we have the best possible people and practices.
“We must uphold the highest standards of care and safety, and do all we can to better the lives of children around the world.”
The charity submitted a serious incident report to the Charity Commission on being made aware of the safeguarding allegations.
Data for the financial year ending 30 April 2019 puts Penny Appeal's income at £33.2m and spending at £35.1m.
The charity provides poverty relief across Asia, the Middle East and Africa. It also works in the UK to help homeless people and women who have experienced domestic abuse.
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