Charity watchdog launches investigation into trusts with links to Wolverhampton Sikh temple
The Charity Commission has launched an investigation into the management of two charities connected to a Sikh temple in Wolverhampton.
The watchdog said the probe over alleged failures to comply with regulations, related to two causes connected to the Guru Nanak Gurdwara in Well Lane in Wednesfield, which were set up for the advancement of the Sikh religion in the town.
The move followed a previous regulatory compliance case after concerns raised by members of the congregation about the trustees’ oversight of the established, unregistered charity set up in 1980. Further concerns were raised by the formation and registration of a new Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) in 2024.
The Charity Commission said there had been a failure to comply with regulatory guidance and with information gathering Orders of the Commission related to these concerns by April 23. However, it said the trust had since submitted a registration application.
It stated: "The inquiry will examine if the trustees are complying with their legal duties and responsibilities in respect of the administration, governance, and management of both charities with particular regard to - the conduct of the trustees and whether the charities are being managed in accordance with their governing documents whether there are appropriate controls in place to ensure the charities’ assets are protected the extent to which the trustees have complied with previously issued regulatory guidance and orders if there has been any misconduct and/or mismanagement by the trustees in the administration of the charities.
"The Commission may extend the scope of the inquiry if additional regulatory issues emerge. The Commission escalated its engagement with both the CIO and the related, unregistered charity to a statutory inquiry in June 2025."
