Charity Commission launches inquiry into Adapt North East

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 27 Oct, 19:32 · Archive

The Charity Commission has launched an investigation into Adapt North East over allegations of significant payments made without trustee approval.

The Charity Commission has launched a statutory inquiry into Adapt (North East) following allegations of 'significant' payments being made without full approval of its trustees. The Hexham-based charity provides community transport, wheelchair hire, social prescribing and support for people with sensory, physical and learning disabilities across Northumberland, Tyneside, Sunderland and Durham. The regulator said it began assessing financial and governance concerns in July this year and opened a regulatory compliance case to examine possible misconduct or mismanagement.

The inquiry will examine whether trustees have complied with their legal duties, including whether there has been any 'unauthorised personal benefit and potential conflicts of interest' and whether the charity has appropriate financial controls in place. An internal dispute at the charity is said to have impacted its ability to operate and trustees' ability to engage with the regulator.

Charity chief executive Hannah Harniess, who joined a year ago, said she raised concerns about financial arrangements. She told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that Adapt's services would continue to operate and that she welcomed the commission's inquiry. Four former trustees issued a statement saying they would 'provide relevant information, answer questions fully and comply with any requirements'.

How it is being reported

• 'Serious concerns' prompt disability charity probeDisability charity Adapt North East is being investigated by the Charity Commission.BBC Tyne And Wear · 27 Oct, 19:10
• 'Serious concerns' over Northumberland disability charity as investigation launchedThe Charity Commission is launching an inquiry into the running of Hexham-based Adapt (North East), after allegations of “significant” payments being made without full approval of its trusteesChronicleLive · 27 Oct, 16:05

In this story: Adapt North East · Charity Commission · Hexham · Hannah Harniess · Michael Briggs · George Clarke · Mavis Ostler · Rosemary Theobalds

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem · Corrections log