Watford & District Gingerbread

Registered Charity Number 1082228 (Removed)

You can also view the full colour PDF version of the Watford & District Gingerbread inquiry report.

This is a supplementary statement of results of an inquiry into Watford & District Gingerbread (registered charity 1082228 (removed)), published on 5 September 2008.

The Charity

1. Watford and District Gingerbread (“the Charity”) was registered as a charity on 31 August 2000. It was also a company limited by guarantee and registered at Companies House.

Commission inquiry

2. On 12 April 2006 the Commission opened an inquiry into the Charity as a consequence of complaints regarding a serious breakdown in governance and suspected theft. This supplementary report should be read in conjunction with the statement of results of the inquiry. (Insert link to the old inquiry report)

3. The inquiry found that there were a number of causes for concern. They included the lack of any validly appointed trustees, no formal written financial controls, disclosure of personal information without consent and falsification of minutes of the Charity’s annual general meeting.

4. On 21 March 2007 the Commission made orders appointing two persons as trustees and sanctioning them to call an annual general meeting within three months to get the Charity back on its feet. The inquiry was closed on 23 March 2007.

Action since the inquiry closure

5. In August 2007 the Commission contacted the two trustees to find out what progress they had made in carrying out the remedial actions required following the inquiry. The trustees had been instructed to implement improvements in the Charity’s policies and procedures so as to protect its assets and the interests of its beneficiaries.

6. However, despite the Commission’s efforts to enable the trustees to revive the Charity, on 10 July 2007 it was struck off the register of companies and dissolved for failing to submit its accounts. This meant that the Charity effectively ceased to exist.

7. On 4 February 2008 the Commission removed the Charity from its register. The only remaining asset of the charitable company was four gift vouchers with a total value of £100. With the agreement of the Treasury Solicitor (who is responsible for dealing with residual property of dissolved companies) the vouchers were transferred to One Parent Families/Gingerbread, a charity with similar objects.

Date of Publication: 05/09/2008