Warning for children's charity ‘overdue with its accounts’

The Charity Commission said Colchester Children’s Charity Appeal failed to file its annual return for 2009, while its 2010 accounts are 116 days overdue.

A spokesman for the watchdog said it had sent repeated reminders to the charity, which has two shops in Colchester – one in Mersea Road and another in Queen Elizabeth Way.

She said: “In not filing its details, the charity is not providing the public with up-to-date and accurate information.

“Charities are accountable to their donors, to the people they help, as well as to us, as their regulator. They must be open and transparent.

“Donors can see when charities are overdue with their information, and so may be put off donating by this.

“It’s vital charity trustees make sure their charities send their information to us as soon as possible and take steps to make sure they are on time in the future.”

The charity was previously known as the Colchester Children’s Day Care Centre Appeal and ran Daniels House, in Straight Road, a nursery for children with special needs.

It changed its name to the Colchester Children’s Charity Appeal in 2009 after the nursery closed.

It now raises money for causes which benefit children in need in Colchester and further afield.

Last year it granted £1,000 to a family activity breaks scheme, £5,000 to Autism Anglia and £5,000 to the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign.

Ellen Daniels, who set up the charity in 1989, said she was unaware the accounts were late, as did Val Thompson, a trustee and manageress of one of the charity’s shops.

Roy Kemp, the charity’s accountant, declined to comment yesterday, except to say the details had been filed.

Yesterday, Charity Commission records showed 67 north-east Essex charities were overdue with their accounts.

They included 1st Boxford Guides, which has not yet filed accounts for 2008 and 2009, and East Bergholt Parish Hall, which has failed to submit accounts for 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2009. Neither was available for comment.