Two Church of England dioceses have received formal warnings from the UK’s Charity Commission for improperly handling safeguarding issues. The Liverpool Diocesan Board of Finance and the Chelmsford Diocesan Board of Finance were found to have breached the regulator’s guidance and trustee duties in their management of allegations.
Charity Commission Takes Action Against Church Dioceses
The Commission was informed of safeguarding issues in January 2025 through sources, including media reports, which prompted the regulatory action. These concerns are related to allegations about behaviour towards two adults by the then bishop of Liverpool, who resigned later that month while insisting that no crime had taken place.
“We’ve issued official warnings to the Liverpool Diocesan Board of Finance and the Chelmsford Diocesan Board of Finance over failures to handle safeguarding allegations in line with our guidance and trustee duties,” said the Charity Commission.
Findings Reveal Governance Failure
The Commission’s investigation found that both organizations failed to maintain proper control of safeguarding by their trustees. In both cases, trustees who were aware of the accusations failed to take any action that would have allowed the trustee boards to assess the risks and choose the best course of action.
Additionally, the regulator found that there were not enough policies and procedures in place to guarantee proper safeguarding supervision. This meant that when the claims were initially made in 2023, trustees were unable to determine whether the issues should be submitted to the Commission.
We’ve issued Official Warnings to The Liverpool Diocesan Board of Finance and The Chelmsford Diocesan Board of Finance over failures to handle safeguarding allegations in line with our guidance and trustee duties.
Read more: https://t.co/ZJAtDmHKaW pic.twitter.com/oIWUrFl349
— Charity Commission (@ChtyCommission) January 16, 2026
Only in early 2025, following public attention, were the incidents submitted to the Commission. The Commission came to the conclusion that these shortcomings amounted to poor management in both charities’ operations.
Required Actions and Improvements
The official warning mandates both organizations to ensure that the Commission’s recommendations for safeguarding individuals from harm are sufficiently understood. When trustees assign safeguarding responsibilities to individuals or subgroups, they must create strong policies and processes for reporting information to broader trustee boards.
It is equally mandatory for both charities to ensure that significant incidents are quickly reported to the Commission. Additionally, they are obligated to give the regulator regular reports on their progress in carrying out the necessary measures.
Back in early 2025, the Charity Commission investigated two Jewish charities over concerns of trustee management and administration. The Commission also launched investigations revolving around alleged financial impropriety on the SharedImpact Foundation.
Wider Implications For The Charity Sector
The Commission has highlighted lessons for all charities, especially faith-based groups. One of the most important areas is that everyone who might receive reports of claims must have a thorough understanding of safeguarding protocols, which should be reinforced with frequent training.
Also, when safeguarding issues emerge, trustees must have the proper reporting procedures in place to evaluate the entire board. When dealing with accusations involving those in positions of authority or spiritual influence, extra caution is equally needed.
