Charity Commission launches statutory inquiry into two Sikh charities linked to Wednesfield Gurdwara
The Charity Commission has initiated a statutory inquiry into two charities connected with the Guru Nanak Gurdwara in Wednesfield, Wolverhampton over concerns about governance and regulatory compliance.
The first is an unregistered charity established in 1980, commonly known as the Nanak Sikh Temple. The second is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO), formally registered in 2024 under the name Guru Nanak Gurdwara, Wednesfield.
A regulatory compliance case had previously been opened following concerns from members of the congregation about how the trustees were overseeing the long-standing unregistered charity. Additional concerns arose when some of those trustees formed and registered the new CIO.
The unregistered charity failed to comply with a Charity Commission Order requiring it to apply for registration by 23 April 2025, as the law demands. This failure constitutes misconduct or mismanagement in charity administration. The charity has since submitted a registration application, on or around 1 August 2025.
Due to these issues, the Commission escalated engagement with both entities to a statutory inquiry on 20 June 2025.
The inquiry will assess whether trustees have fulfilled their legal responsibilities concerning the administration, governance and management of both charities. The scope includes:
- how trustees conduct themselves and whether the charities are managed in line with their governing documents
- whether suitable controls exist to safeguard the charities’ assets
- the extent to which trustees have complied with earlier regulatory guidance and Orders
- whether any misconduct or mismanagement has occurred in managing the charities
The Charity Commission confirmed it may broaden the inquiry should further regulatory issues come to light.
Efforts to obtain comment from the Gurdwara have been made, but no response has yet been published.
