Companies House and Charity Commission Ignored Warnings About Blackpool Homeless Charity
According to reports, the Charity Commission has launched an investigation into the financial records of a Blackpool based charity, The Ashley Foundation and its former 'CEO' Lee Dribben, as well as the numerous trustees and their failure to properly oversee the operations of the homeless charity.
As reported by the Charity Commission, the Blackpool Gazette and WireNews, The Ashley Foundation is being investigated on a number of fronts. These involve serious financial concerns, including:
Charity funds used for luxury items
Property valuations
Improper expenses
Third-party transactions
As early as 2016 and then again in 2017 and 2018, warnings were sent to both the Commissioner for Charities and the Registrar for Companies regarding the obvious illegal behaviour of Lee Dribben. These warnings were ignored.
Dribben, who was described as the 'CEO' of The Ashley Foundation was never a Director for the charity but he operated the company as his own personal piggy bank and exerted considerable control and influence over the trustees, who openly admitted within the company's accounts that they could not make a move without him.
Despite repeated warnings, the two regulatory bodies declined to act for more than 4 years, while Dribben was able to syphon off money paid by Local and Area Councils, intended to benefit the homeless.
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