Refugee aid charity's bank accounts frozen amid concerns

The charity's bank accounts have been frozen while a regulator conducts an inquiry

A regulator has frozen the bank accounts of a charity that provides aid for refugees over undisclosed "substantial payments".

The Charity Commission said it has concerns over trustees at We Care Foundation making payments from the charity to companies for which they are directors.

The commission added that "substantial payments" were not disclosed in the charity's accounts, and were not "adequately explained".

We Care Foundation, which was founded in Bristol and is now located in Coventry, said it is "fully committed to resolving matters swiftly".

The commission said it has concerns over "significant decisions" about the charity's finances and management during a period when there were only two trustees, who were married at the time.

The regulator announced the inquiry on Wednesday into the charity, which also provides financial and other aid to victims of war or natural disaster overseas, after it opened in January.

The opening of the inquiry is not a finding of wrongdoing, the commission said, adding that it has not made any conclusions.

A spokesperson for We Care Foundation said: "We have provided substantial evidence to support the investigation, demonstrating our commitment.

"We are fully cooperating with the commission and are dedicated to resolving this matter as quickly as possible.

"We Care remains committed to transparency and accountability in all its operations and looks forward to a swift resolution of the inquiry with the commission's support."

The inquiry will look into whether the trustees are complying with the law, whether they provided true and accurate information to the regulator at all time and it will examine if any failings or weaknesses were a result of misconduct or mismanagement by the trustees.

The commission began engaging with the charity in June 2022, and its bank accounts were frozen in March 2024.

We Care Foundation operates with councils across the country including Bristol and Bath and North East Somerset.