Investigation launched as dispute risks bringing disability charity to a halt

ADAPT (North East) was set up to improve the quality of life of people with sensory, physical and learning disabilities and those experiencing mental health problems, as well as their families and carers. The charity provides services including community transport, social prescribing and wheelchair hire and is based in the North East of England. 

In July 2026, the Commission began assessing financial and governance concerns raised about the charity. This included allegations of significant payments being made without full approval of the trustee board. 

In September, the Commission opened a regulatory compliance case to examine concerns of possible misconduct and/or mismanagement further. 

During its regulatory engagement, the Commission quickly became aware of an internal dispute at the charity impacting its ability to operate and its trustees’ ability to engage as a collective with the regulator’s enquiries. 

The regulator is concerned about the potential impact the ongoing dispute, and any disruption it has caused, is likely to have on those who rely on its services and the charity’s staff. It is therefore escalating its engagement to a statutory inquiry to investigate the concerns further. 

The inquiry will examine the extent to which the trustees, past and present, have complied and are able to comply with their legal duties in respect to the administration, governance and management of the charity, and in particular: 

whether the charity has a properly composed board of trustees who are willing and capable of managing it in accordance with its governing document 

the trustees’ decision making including whether there has been any unauthorised personal benefit and potential conflicts of interest 

the financial management of the charity including whether the charity has appropriate financial controls in place 

the potential impact on the charity’s beneficiaries at the current time 

The scope of the inquiry can be extended if additional regulatory issues emerge.