The Charity Commission has launched a statutory inquiry into community sports and recreation charity Quba Charity due to links with international aid charity Quba Trust, which the regulator has previously investigated.

The Commission has also banned trustees at Derby based Quba Charity from transferring funds and assets outside of the UK and from fundraising.

Last month three trustees at Quba Trust were disqualified amid concerns of their handling of more than £750,000 in the aid charity’s funds.

This week the regulator has announced the probe into Quba Charity “following concerns around potential misuse of funds” due to its links with Quba Trust.

Links include two of the banned trustees involved with Quba Trust found to “have also been involved” with the sports charity.

“The Commission is concerned about the extent of their involvement and the potential influence they may exert on Quba Charity,” it said.

Initial investigation by the regulator into Quba Charity has found “close similarities” between its branding, social media and website content with Quba Trust.

“This includes information on Quba Charity’s website about overseas projects carrying Quba Trust’s name and logo,” added the regulator.

“The inquiry will seek to establish if Quba Charity has been acting outside of its purposes – which, if found, would be considered a misuse of funds and a breach of trust.”

Current and former trustees at Quba Charity have been asked to provide evidence to the statutory inquiry.

Since its investigation into Quba Trust the Commission said that its current trustees “have taken a number of steps to address the failures and weaknesses in the charity’s governance”.

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