Community360 subject to Charity Commission compliance case

The Charity Commission for England and Wales confirmed on Wednesday it had opened what is known as a compliance case as it looks to further its review into accusations of wrongdoing by charity bosses.

C360 came under scrutiny in February after accounts showed the charity had loaned more than £200,000 to its own chief executive, Tracy Rudling.

Since then, it has been revealed Mrs Rudling’s husband Gordon received £65,571 to carry out building work for charity storage facilities on the Rudling’s land in Tolleshunt D’Arcy.

Documents also show between April 2018 and March 2023 Mr Rudling was paid more than £257,000 by the charity. 

Case – the Charity Commission can now use certain powers to ensure there has been no wrongdoing (Image: Pexels)

It transpired that payment had not been signed off by the Charity Commission, with the regulator then confirming concerns had also been raised with them about the building work.

In March, Colchester Council called on the Charity Commission “to clarify the background to the loan”, and by April four trustees had walked away from the charity altogether.

According to the UK Government website, the Charity Commission’s role is to, if something goes wrong, “ensure trustees take responsibility for putting this right”.

It adds: “Where trustees are unable or unwilling to do so, we can deal with the concerns in a regulatory compliance case.”

The opening of a compliance case is significant because it means the regulator can now use certain powers which would require C360 to provide information which could help the regulator with its case.

A spokesman for the Charity Commission said: “We have an open compliance case into Community360 in relation to concerns raised regarding a loan reported in the related party transactions of recently submitted accounts, as well as other potential conflicts of interest.”

Boss – Tracy Rudling is the executive of C360 (Image: Newsquest)

The regulator would not put a timescale on the compliance case and added no findings have been made. It also stressed a compliance case is not a formal investigation.

C360 have said they will not comment whilst the compliance case is ongoing.

A spokesman for the charity said: “It would not be appropriate for us to comment on any live discussions with the Charity Commission, other than to say we will always be fully transparent and open about our work and the vital services we deliver across Essex".

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