Trustees warned after mining case

Third Sector Online, 4 February 2008

The Charity Commission has barred 10 people from acting as trustees for life and warned charities not to give trustees the 'inside track' on job opportunities and other benefits after an investigation into the operations of a Durham miners' charity.

During a six-year investigation into the Durham Mining Convalescent Homes Fund, the commission found that the charity – created to provide convalescent care for coal miners – spent almost 80 per cent of its funds on non-charitable activities, including nearly £400,000 on unauthorised benefits such as entertainment. The charity, which...