An inquiry into governance issues at a Belfast housing association has been completed and all identified issues have been addressed.
The Woodvale and Shankill Community Housing Association (WSCHA) investigation by the Charity Commission was launched in February 2020 amid concerns that the accounts filed for fiscal year 2017/2018 had not been completed or signed by an independent auditor, as required by law.
The WSCHA offers housing and assistance to people in need. It is registered as a charitable trust but wholly owns four for-profit subsidiaries.
It was linked to prominent loyalist Winston ‘Winkie’ Irvine, who was a trustee at the charity, although he is no longer listed as such on the Charity Commission’s website. Mr Irvine is currently out on gun possession bail.
When the Charity Commission asked the WSCHA for confirmation that an audit of its 2017/18 accounts had been conducted and reviewed, and for a signed copy of the accounts and the audit report, the WSCHA’s auditors said they had received the 2017 report. had not completed /18.
The auditors also indicate that they have not drawn up the audit report submitted; had not received final bills from the charity; and have not provided a draft audit report to the WSCHA at any time.
For these reasons, the audit report submitted by the WSCHA was considered false.
The Charity Commission then received correspondence on behalf of the trustees of the WSCHA stating that the draft bills for 2017/18 had been filed as the charity had relocated and final bills would follow in the coming weeks.
A later statement from the trustees said that “under no circumstances was the auditor’s report anything other than a draft report,” something the Commission did not accept.
The WSCHA was then ordered to complete an audit of its accounts for the year ended March 31, 2018.
Further investigation revealed other potential governance issues at the WSCHA, particularly regarding the distribution of the charity’s funds through its subsidiaries.
The WSCHA subsequently granted all requests for information and, after working with the charity to address the issues identified, the Commission said it was satisfied that the risks identified during the investigation had been adequately managed and the investigation was closed.
Rossa Keown, Chief Compliance Officer at the Charity Commission, said: “Cases such as these present an important opportunity for all charities in Northern Ireland to take stock and for charities’ trustees to be aware of their responsibilities.
“Charity directors are reminded of their obligation to ensure that the information presented to the Commission, and by extension to stakeholders and the general public, is current and accurate. In addition, trustees of charities must ensure that the achievement of the charity’s objectives remains the primary focus of the charity’s operations.”
The WSCHA has been contacted for comment.
