STORY
The Charity Commission has opened a statutory inquiry into Edmund Kell Unitarian Church and Elizabeth Kell Community Hall amid concerns that almost £300,000 may be unaccounted for, alongside questions over governance and safeguarding at the Southampton-based charity. The regulator said it began engaging with the excepted charity in April after trustees applied to change its structure. During that process, the Commission reviewed accounts and obtained information about the charity’s investments, identifying funds initially estimated at around £290,000 that could not be accounted for, prompting the escalation to a formal inquiry.
Investigators will examine whether trustees have fulfilled their legal duties, the adequacy of financial controls, and whether there has been any loss or misappropriation of charitable funds. The scope also covers the sufficiency of safeguarding arrangements, including potentially unmanaged risks relating to a connected individual. The Commission may widen the inquiry if further regulatory issues emerge. The charity is “excepted”, meaning it is not required to register with the Commission but is still subject to charity law and regulation. The inquiry was formally opened on 29 April 2025 under section 46 of the Charities Act 2011. At its conclusion, the Commission intends to publish a report setting out the issues examined, actions taken, and outcomes.