Care group inquiry prompts two more investigations

The charity watchdog has opened inquiries into the finances of two charities in Northamptonshire.

Steiner Friends based in Towcester, which provides educational courses, and Shoosmith art gallery in Northampton, are both the subject of a statutory inquiry by the Charity Commission.

A spokesperson said both organisations had trustees who were also trustees of William Blake House in Blakesley - which runs care homes - and which is already being investigated by the watchdog.

Steiner Friends, Shoosmith Gallery and William Blake House were contacted for comment.

The Charity Commission says that William Blake House first came to the commission's attention in November 2025 over "financial and governance concerns".

It was registered as a charity back in 2001.

In February this year, it opened a "regulatory compliance" case into William Blake House due to "serious concerns around possible financial mismanagement", and in March it announced a statutory inquiry.

It was placed into administration after the inquiry's interim manager applied to the High Court.

It emerged the charity owed more than £1.5m to HM Revenue and Customs as of June 2025.

The watchdog has now said Steiner Friends, registered in 1998, had "an established financial and personal relationship" with William Blake House.

"The commission is seeking to establish how potential conflicts of interest arising are managed and whether the charity's funds have been properly applied in furtherance of its charitable objects," a spokesperson said.

Steiner Friends reported £0 income in its annual returns for the four financial years to 2025 and was below the necessary threshold for submitting accounts to the commission.

However, the commission said it was "concerned" the income "may have" in fact exceeded the threshold.

Separately, the commission said a review of the accounts at the Shoosmith Gallery had raised concerns that a trustee had received payment for their role.

It said this "was despite the charity's governing document expressly prohibiting the employment of a trustee without the prior written consent of the commission, which was neither sought nor given".

The charity, registered in 2012, is based at Delapre Abbey and promotes the work of the Shoosmith family of artists.

Do you have a story suggestion for Northamptonshire? Contact us below.

Follow Northamptonshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.