As many of our supporters will be aware, the Charity Commission recently closed its inquiry into Devon Freewheelers (DFW) historic accounts and management, as they considered the charity is fully compliant with its charitable aims and statutory responsibilities.
Disappointingly, in some media there seems to have been a misunderstanding or attempt to misrepresent the inquiry findings. We will not dignify these presentations by arguing with them, but it is important that we set the record straight. The Commission’s report is available for anyone to read on their website, but in summary:
- In 2020, at the height of the covid pandemic, DFW was asked by the NHS to start up covid testing facilities. A separate PLC was set up to do this, but in order to start work immediately DFW initially handled payments under a Service Level Agreement (SLA). This was not an income stream for the blood bikes operation, which continued to be funded entirely by charitable donations, but was used to employ covid testing staff. As soon as the PLC was up and running, the SLA and all monies and staff were transferred to it.
- This prompt response undoubtedly saved lives, but the subsequent need to untangle the accounts and regularise the payments to and from the charity and the PLC took several months, involving extensive external auditing, and resulted in two sets of annual accounts (2020 and 2021) being submitted late. This triggered the Charity Commission actions.
- The last two sets of accounts, for 2022 and 2023, were submitted correctly and on time.
- The Commission stated that in respect of the blood bikes operation “the charity has not charged and does not charge for its services” – as we have always said.
- In examining the charity’s past operation for any possible conflicts of interest, although the charity had a procedure for this, the trustees were unable to provide documentary evidence that it had been followed. The Commission found two instances of payments to trustees where procedure had not been followed. However it described these as “modest” and “well documented… all supporting documentation was being kept.” DFW has now taken actions to resolve the identified issues.
- Today, a new team is in place, with new, strengthened procedures, and the Commission stated: “…the current trustees cooperated fully with the inquiry to resolve identified regulatory issues and extensive guidance was provided to help them manage their charity in line with best practice and legal requirements going forward.”
At no time did the Charity Commission prohibit DFW from working or fundraising. We accept their findings, and welcome this process as a learning exercise to improve our operations and compliance. The closure of the inquiry indicates that the Commission are satisfied that the current operation and trustees are compliant with their responsibilities and working as they should.
2024 marks the 15th anniversary of Devon Freewheelers providing its free blood bikes service to the NHS, its partners, air ambulances and the community in the Southwest of England, 24/7/365. We believe we can now put any doubts about the charity to bed and move onwards and upwards for the next 15 years and more. It only remains for us to thank the public for their unstinting support, the NHS facilities who have continued to work with us, and the charitable organisations who have maintained a dialogue with us. And finally the dedicated volunteers, on the bikes and behind the scenes, who have continued to give their time without payment or expenses in all weathers – and who have in many cases agreed to fund the fuel for the bikes out of their own pockets as a demonstration of their faith in DFW and the life-saving services it provides. We love you all!