Barnabas Aid has revealed that whistleblowers made multiple safeguarding allegations in 2024 and that Christian Safeguarding Services (CSS) is to conduct an independent safeguarding review.
The charity, which supports persecuted believers globally, is also now being managed by a specialist law firm, instead of its trustees, after a further intervention by the charities regulator.
These are significant developments for a high-profile charity in turmoil which has been the subject of a complex and long-running statutory inquiry since September 2024.
In a statement on its website, Barnabas Aid (also known as Barnabas Fund) says the 2024 whistleblowers raised “many allegations of a safeguarding nature”; and it has commissioned CSS to carry out the review.
According to the Terms of Reference, there were 102 accounts containing allegations of bullying, controlling behaviour and intimidation by key individuals who were in senior leadership positions.
The charity confirmed: “CSS has been given complete freedom to identify witnesses, review evidence and pursue lines of inquiry wherever they lead.” It said the review findings will be publicly shared.
Anyone wishing to provide information can contact CSS, including via email at barnabasaidreview@thecss.co.uk
Lawyers at solicitors firm Anthony Collins in Birmingham were appointed on 18 June as interim managers to take control of the charity, including its finances. They will also investigate the charity’s historic decision-making and related-party arrangements, protect and recover charity assets where necessary and report back directly to the regulator.
The Charity Commission can only appoint interim managers – a “protective power” – when a statutory inquiry has been opened, if satisfied that there is or has been misconduct and/or charity mismanagement; or that it is necessary to protect charity property.
The appointment means the existing trustees at Barnabas Aid are excluded from all charity decision-making, finances and governance. The charity says it welcomes the appointment.
The statutory inquiry which is ongoing, was set up to investigate serious governance and financial concerns at Barnabas Aid.
In October 2024, the regulator restricted the charity from entering into transactions exceeding £4,000 without its approval. In January 2025, it also opened statutory inquiries into four further charities connected to Barnabas Aid, including the Oxford Centre for Religion in Public Life.
