The Charity Commission has issued an e-mail press release in which it announces that on 21 March 2018 it made an order under s.76 (3)(g) Charities Act 2011 appointing Emma Moody of Womble Bond Dickinson (UK) LLP as interim manager to Ampleforth Abbey (No. 1026493) and the St Laurence Education Trust (No. 1063808). The appointment came as a result of continued concerns about the extent to which current safeguarding risks to pupils at the schools run by the charities were being adequately managed.

The Commission opened a statutory inquiry into both charities in November 2016 to investigate the trustees’ approach to safeguarding and their handling of allegations of abuse. The Commission is not satisfied that the charities’ current safeguarding policies, procedures and practices are adequate and working properly and it has concerns about the charities’ compliance with established safeguarding procedures.

Ms Moody will have all the powers and duties of a trustee – to the exclusion of the existing trustees – in respect of a number of safeguarding-related matters. Her responsibilities will include:

• reviewing the sufficiency of the charities’ governance, leadership, management, culture, policies and practices with regard to safeguarding;
• scrutinising and reviewing the charities’ progress with implementing the recommendations arising from the independent review in 2017; and
• identifying and implementing any additional actions which are considered necessary or appropriate to provide a safe environment for children, young persons and vulnerable people at Ampleforth.