Police Investigation as ‘Significant Concerns’ Emerge at Hartlepool Charity...
EXCLUSIVE: Trustees for Troubled Hartlepool Charity The Wharton Trust Break Their Silence Over Police Investigation and Auditors Financial Concerns...
15th October 2026
The charity behind Hartlepool’s Annexe community centre has today confirmed that concerns over its finances, governance and operations have been reported to police and the Charity Commission after concerns about the charities finances were unearthed.
An interim board overseeing the Hartlepool Charity 'The Wharton Trust' says the issues go beyond concerns already raised by an independent examiners report when its 2024 accounts were reviewed with the announcement raising serious questions about the running of the Wharton Terrace community organisation...
In a statement made online this morning (15th October 2026), the interim board said it had been established over the past couple of months to oversee the charity and support its management and staff.
The Statement Read:
“The independent examiner’s report on the Trust’s accounts for the year ended 31 December 2024 raised significant concerns regarding accounting records,” ...
“Since then, further significant concerns across the accounts, governance and operations have come to light, which then had to be reported to the police and the Charity Commission.”
The accounts themselves reveal just why the charity’s financial management came under the spotlight, when Independent examiner Julie Todd reported concerns that required accounting records had not been maintained and that the accounts did not agree with those records.
Among the matters highlighted was said to have been a £10,000 payment to a company which subsequently went into liquidation. The examiner said no supporting information had been provided to establish the purpose of the payment.
Her report also identified a £20,000 outstanding loan involving a community interest company connected to a Wharton Trust trustee, with no formal loan agreement or agreed repayment terms in place.
The accompanying accounts show that £30,000 had been advanced during the year, of which just £10,000 had been repaid.
Inconclusive Bookkeeping Records
The examiner also described the bookkeeping records and evidence supporting some expenditure as 'inconclusive'. She said the accounts had been prepared using her knowledge of the charity and discussions with key personnel, with charitable expenditure allocated on a “best fit basis”.
Those findings were said to have raised substantial questions about how charitable money was recorded, authorised and accounted for. However, the interim board has not disclosed the nature of the further concerns it says have since emerged, or specified which matters police are investigating.
The Charity Commission’s register also shows that the Trust missed its reporting deadline for two consecutive years.
Its accounts for the year ending December 2024 were submitted on 12 December 2025 — 42 days late. The previous year’s accounts were submitted on 28 January 2025 — 89 days late, with the interim board acknowledging the uncertainty facing those who depend on or work with the Trust.
“We recognise that this is a difficult time for the Trust’s members, staff, funders and the wider community,”
Trustees said the're now working with current members to identify any other issues needing attention, strengthen governance and ensure the charity fulfils its responsibilities.
They also thanked current staff, who they said were continuing to carry out their duties and support the board during the difficult period.
