Alzheimer's charity spent nothing on charitable activities, finds Commission report

6 April 2011

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The Charity Commission has published two inquiry reports that contain shocking stories of charity mismanagement; a trademark application seems designed to scupper another organisation's plans, and two high-profile CEOs announce plans to step down from their jobs.

Alzheimer's charity spent nothing on charitable activities, finds Commission report

Alzheimer's UK Research Eduation and Care Ltd "had become nothing more than a fundraising vehicle", the Charity Commission stated in its report into the governance and use of funds at the five-year-old charity.

WWF quits government taskforce in disgust at policy u-turn

WWF UK has quit a government taskforce set up to make housing 'zero-carbon' in protest at a move by ministers to let homebuilders and buyers off the hook in the development of new homes.

Citizens UK beats Locality to trademark application for 'Institute for Community Organising'

Citizens UK, the organisation that felt it was unjustly passed over for the £15m contract to provide the community organisers programme, has applied to trademark the name 'Institute for Community Organising' in a move likely to annoy Locality, the group that won the contract.

Birmingham housing charity takes over smaller counterpart

Midlands poverty relief and sheltered housing charity Yardley Great Trust has taken over the smaller housing provider Carrs Lane Homes.

Care charity loaned over £173,000 to staff member to buy house

The Charity Commission has concluded its report into Broad View Care Ltd after its second statutory investigation which revealed the charity had loaned over £173,000 to its director of nursing to buy a house.

In other news...

Appeal Court legacy ruling sets 'dangerous precedent', warn charities

Three large animal charities have voiced their dismay over a Court of Appeal judgment that allows a disinherited daughter to challenge her deceased mother's decision to leave her entire £500,000 estate to the charities.

Hurd seeks to reconfer exempt status to schools and sixth-forms

Minister for civil society Nick Hurd has announced that academies, foundation and voluntary schools and sixth-form colleges will have their exempt status reconferred, subject to parliamentary approval.

Locality to launch Institute for Community Organising

Locality is planning to set up an Institute for Community Organising as part of the £15m community organisers programme it is running on behalf of the government.

Government's Big Society actions are 'not meeting rhetoric'

Speakers at last week's 'Reality check for Big Society' event did not provide ringing endorsements that the government's policy agenda would create a more equal and fair society.

Movers

WRVS chief to step down after four years

WRVS chief executive Lynne Berry is to leave the charity this summer after four years at the helm.

Moseley to retire from Catch22

Joyce Moseley will retire from Catch22 at the end of this year, after more than a decade in the role of chief executive.

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They said it...

"We recognise, of course, that government alone cannot single-handedly create a fairer society. It is a task for parents, communities, businesses, professions and voluntary organisations too."

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg cnnouncing the strategy to improve social mobility

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