New charity investigation: Gilbert Deya Ministries
The Charity Commission has opened a statutory inquiry into Gilbert Deya Ministries, registered charity number 1051722.
The Charity Commission, the independent regulator of charities in England and Wales, has opened a statutory inquiry into Gilbert Deya Ministries, registered charity number 1051722. The inquiry was opened on 28 July 2016.
The charity has objects to seek the advancement of the Christian religion and to provide assistance for persons in condition of need, hardship or distress.
The regulator has concerns regarding the safeguarding policies, practices and procedures at the charity which arose following the arrest of one of its trustees in 2014. The regulator has been trying to address a number of these concerns with the trustees, who have failed to report serious incidents to the commission and to provide adequate responses to the questions raised. The regulator also has concerns that the charity may have been selling olive oil to which it attributed healing qualities. The regulator is concerned that such activity may be in breach of relevant regulations and law.
The inquiry will examine:
- the administration, governance and management of the charity by the trustees
- the charity’s safeguarding policies, procedures and practices
- the circumstances relating to the alleged sale of olive oil
The commission has also made a direction under section 47 of the Charities Act to direct the charity trustees to provide responses to the commission’s questions.
It is the commission’s policy, after it has concluded an inquiry, to publish a report detailing what issues the inquiry looked at, what actions were undertaken as part of the inquiry and what the outcomes were. Reports of previous inquiries by the commission are available on its website.
The charity’s details can be viewed on the commission’s online charity search tool .
Ends
PR50/16
Notes to Editors
- The Charity Commission is the independent regulator of charities in England and Wales. To find out more about our work, see our annual report.
- Search for charities on our online register.
- Section 46 of the Charities Act 2011 gives the commission the power to institute inquiries. The opening of an inquiry gives the commission access to a range of investigative, protective and remedial legal powers.
- Section 47 of the Charities Act 2011 gives the commission the power to obtain evidence for the purposes of an inquiry.
- The commission’s decision to announce the opening of a statutory inquiry is based on whether it is in the public interest to do so and with consideration of our objective to increase public trust and confidence in charities.
Read more information on the commission’s policy and factors taken into account when deciding to issue a press release.
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