Charity inquiry for potential fund misuse

A charity is being investigated by a regulator over an alleged misuse of funds after it was linked to another charity which was found to have serious failings.

The Charity Commission for England and Wales has launched an inquiry into the Quba Charity in Derby after two of its trustees were linked to the Quba Trust in Luton, which had three trustees disqualified in December.

The trustees of the Quba Trust were unable to account for £250,000 that was transferred overseas and £500,000 that was not appropriately audited, the regulator said.

The inquiry will establish if the Quba Charity has been acting outside of its purposes, and it has placed a ban on its fundraising or it sending money abroad.

The Quba Trust said it worked to provide disaster relief and advance the Islamic religion.

The Charity Commission said it was concerned about the extent of the involvement and the potential influence the two trustees from the Quba Trust may have exerted on the Quba Charity

Through preliminary assessment the independent regulator has identified close similarities between the two charity's branding on social media and website content.

The Quba Charity, previously named the Specialist Sports Foundation, was set up to promote healthy recreation and sports for people in Derby, but is also registered to an address in Luton.

The inquiry, which opened on 2 January, will investigate the conduct of trustees and attempt to determine if the funds have been used in line with the charity's stated objectives, the regulator said.

The Charity Commission will publish a report detailing the issues investigated and the outcomes after the inquiry has been concluded.

The BBC has approached the Quba Charity for comment.

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