Charity ordered to keep better records

THE Human Aid office on Featherstall Road South

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HUMAN Aid UK, a charity currently being monitored by the Charities Commission, continues to court controversy.

It has been revealed the charity, whose Oldham branch in Featherstall Road South, Westwood, once had an ISIS supporter volunteer, earlier this month held a segregated fun day.

Human Aid UK held a fundraiser on April 9 at the Compass Learning Centre, in Stock Lane, Westwood, to help Human Aid supply medical aid for Syria and building works for Compass Learning Centre.

An event poster said it would be segregated.

The charity also come under the spotlight when one-time volunteer Mohammed Hussain Syeedy was found guilty of the murder of Rochdale Imam Jalal Uddin.

Mr Uddin was bludgeoned in a Rochdale children's play area in February 2016. Syeedy (21), from Rochdale, was jailed for life with a minimum term of 24 years.

When police searched the former engineering student's home after his arrest, officers found a "large volume" of IS-related material on his phone and other devices. In court, however, he denied that he supported ISIS.

In response to Syeedy's conviction, Human Aid issued a statement saying: "Human Aid are shocked by the news that Mohammed Hussain Syeedy has been found guilty of the murder of Rochdale Imam Jalal Uddin.

"Syeedy who had volunteered with several different charities in the North West had also been an occasional volunteer for Human Aid, at a few of its fundraising events for humanitarian aid.

"He was, as far as we knew, a bright and intelligent young man, hard-working and of sound character.

"He gave no indication to us whatsoever that he was attracted to any religious/political ideology.

"Given his good character and apparent dislike of harshness in matters of religion, volunteers at our northern office are shocked and in disbelief at how he could have got entangled in such a heinous crime."

The Charities Commission - the independent regulator of charities in England and Wales - opened a statutory inquiry into Human Aid in June,2013, after concerns were raised about an event arranged in association with City University London's Islamic Students Society, at which individuals reportedly holding controversial and/or extremist views were to be given a platform and that proceeds of the event would be donated to the charity.

Although the event was cancelled, the charities watchdog referred the matter to its monitoring team to engage with and assess how the charity managed the wider risks associated with external speakers.

In March the Charities Commission released a statement of the results of an inquiry into Human Aid and concluded that the charity had acted on some of the regulatory advice and guidance provided immediately prior to the inquiry on financial controls and management of the charity's fundraising. However, the inquiry identified further concerns that the charity had not exercised sufficient oversight of its work with partners, particularly in high risk and conflict areas.

The watchdog said there was no evidence of misapplication of charity funds. However, it added, there was an overall lack of adequate documentation to evidence the charity's due diligence and monitoring of the end use of all the charity's funds.

As a result, the commission concluded, the trustees failed to adequately protect the charity, which is mismanagement in the administration of the charity in this regard.

The commission has directed the trustees to carry out actions to address compliance with trustee duties, due diligence and record keeping.