An Ilford-based charity has been issued an official warning over breaches of ‘trust and duty’ and failing to properly safeguard 'vulnerable beneficiaries'.

The British Pakistani Christians charity, registered in Green Lane, Ilford, has been written up by the Charity Commission for England and Wales.

The official warning, published in a report earlier this month under section 75A of the Charities Act, takes aim at the charity’s leadership – led by chair of trustees Juliet Chowdhry.

The report reprimanded trustees for failing to provide stringent safeguarding policies to ensure the 'protection of vulnerable beneficiaries in its overseas work'.

The charity is registered as an organisation working to alleviate poverty and promote human rights and religious and racial diversity abroad but is also known to undertake work in the east London borough of Redbridge and in Chigwell, Epping Forest.

Charity Commission inspectors also criticised management for failing adequately manage a “specific safeguarding incident” – however the report did not go into specifics – and failing to protect the charity’s assets and funds.

Inspectors wrote: “The trustees have failed to ensure that the charity is carrying out its purpose for the public benefit by ensuring all of the charity’s activities are intended to further or support its purposes.”

In April of 2020 the commission issued an action plan to remedy the failing; following a series of online meetings inspectors have declared the trustees have failed to comply with the full terms of the plan.

The charity has been ordered to employ a qualified safeguarding officer to assist in the development of a “robust safeguarding policy” and to “implement effective financial controls, including protocols for agreeing travel and other expenses”.

Failure to do so may end in further regulatory action.