The Charity Commission has opened a statutory inquiry into a fraternal society over a potential risk to a “substantial amount” of charitable funds.
The charity – the Royal Antediluvian Order of Buffaloes Grand Lodge of England Comprehensive Trust Deed – is a male-only membership society with objects of providing grants to support members of the Grand Lodge of England.
It is associated with a non-charity, unincorporated association with a similar name known as the Royal Antediluvian Order of Buffaloes Grand Lodge of England (the GLE).
The charity and the GLE are separate, but linked organisations.
In September 2023, the regulator opened a compliance case into the charity due to a dispute between it and the GLE over “ownership of substantial funds”.
The regulator also engaged with the charity’s trustees about general governance matters, and the charity failing to file its accounting information for several years.
On 28 January this year, the regulator opened a statutory inquiry due to its concerns that there may have been misconduct or mismanagement in the administration of the charity.
No accounts submitted for seven years
The charity’s trustees currently named on the register currently claim that they have been unable to submit accounting information as records required to prepare the accounts have been withheld as part of the dispute.
Despite prolonged engagement and an action plan issued by the regulator, the charity has defaulted on its accounting obligations for the last seven years.
Its last recorded income for the financial year ending 31 March 2018 totalled £340,000.
The regulator said more recently a serious governance issue has arisen, with competing groups claiming to be legitimately appointed as the charity’s trustees.
It is therefore is concerned that, as a result of the longstanding dispute between the charity and the GLE, a substantial amount of charitable funds may be at risk.
The inquiry will examine the trustees’ compliance with their obligations to file financial records and whether the charity’s property has been or is at risk.
It will also consider whether the charity is being managed in accordance with its governing document and if this document is fit for purpose.
The regulator said it may extend the scope of the inquiry if additional regulatory issues emerge.
One of the charity’s trustees named on the register told Civil Society: “We have worked diligently for eight years to protect the charity, and we will continue to do so.”
