An animal charity has today been given an official warning by the regulator for failing to file its accounts on time for five consecutive years.
On the Charity Commission’s website, the UK German Shepherd Rescue Angels’ page carries a ‘regulatory alert’ label and adds that “charity reporting is overdue by 957 days”.
The commission said GSRA had also “failed to ensure that the charity has the required number of trustees”.
The charity’s page says it has two trustees and 150 volunteers, while its most recently filed accounts – for the year ending 31 December 2018 – report income of £70,000 and expenditure of £68,000.
A press statement from the commission said: “We have been clear in the actions the trustees should take, including filing the charity’s outstanding annual returns and appointing additional trustees in line with the charity’s governing document.
“Failure to comply with these actions may lead to further regulatory action being taken by the commission.”
Tracy Howarth, assistant director of casework at the commission, said: “It is a basic trustee duty to file their charity’s annual accounting information. This ensures that charities can be transparent and accountable to the public.
“The information also provides important information to help the commission regulate and support charities better.
“I hope that this official warning and the prescribed actions help this charity get back on track.”
The UK GSRA website says it was “formed in September 2010, starting in the North West of England” and “within six months the rescue covered all regions of the United Kingdom”.
It is based in Elswick, between Blackpool and Preston, and focuses on “educating, rescuing, rehabilitating and rehoming German Shepherds and GSD crosses throughout the UK”.
The charity has been contacted by Third Sector for comment.