Charity Commission Disqualifies Former Trustees of Genealogy Charity and Recovers £113,000

The Charity Commission has disqualified two former trustees of Burke’s Peerage Foundation as part of its statutory inquiry into the charity, which has today concluded with the publication of an official report

The charity was registered in 2014 with aims to promote education in genealogy and personal heritage. It was removed from the charity register on 2 August 2023 as it ceased to operate.

Matters Under Investigation

The Commission launched its inquiry in February 2022, after identifying serious concerns during a separate inquiry into The Mahfouz Foundation, which had links with Burke’s Peerage Foundation.

The inquiry was opened to determine the extent to which the trustees were complying with their legal duties in the way they administered and managed the charity, including compliance with legal obligations around the preparation and filing of annual accounts and annual returns.

Findings of the Inquiry  

In its inquiry report, the Commission concludes that William Bortrick and Mark Ayre were responsible for misconduct and / or mismanagement. The regulator has concluded that that they failed to manage conflicts of interest, misapplied charity funds, received unauthorised personal benefit and failed to submit accurate annual returns to the regulator.

The inquiry found that the trustees had purchased items that did not further the charity’s purposes, including antique furniture, paintings and statues. In one instance, a desk and bookcase were bought for £16,000 using the charity’s funds and were then kept and used at Mr Bortrick’s home.

The inquiry found the charity paid for services that benefited a company linked to both of the trustees. For example, it paid for insurance which would cover legal fees to protect the name of Burke’s Peerage - a guide to the genealogy and heraldry of historical families which is owned by a private company belonging to one of the trustees.

Regulatory Action

As a result of the Commission’s interventions:  

Angela Ascroft, Critical Case Lead at the Charity Commission, said:

“This report sets out very serious findings.

The inquiry report, published on GOV.UK, sets out the Commission’s full findings and conclusions.

Ends

Notes to Editors

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