Inquiry launched into care charity over £1.5m debt

A formal investigation into a charity that runs four care homes for adults with learning disabilities has been opened by a government regulator.

The Charity Commission had previously opened a compliance case into William Blake House in Blakesley, Northamptonshire, but said this had now been escalated due to "serious concerns around possible financial mismanagement".

The matter was raised at Prime Minister's Questions by Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey, after the commission said the charity owed £1.5m to HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) and had been served with a winding‑up notice.

William Blake House which runs the homes in Blakesley, Weedon Lois, Lois Weedon and Upper Boddington,has been approached for comment.

The charity, which was registered in 2001, first came to the Commission's attention in November 2025 over "financial and governance concerns".

The regulator said its investigation would examine the charity's financial management, including late filing of accounts, potential unmanaged conflicts of interest and whether there had been any unauthorised personal benefit.

It will also consider whether appropriate financial controls were in place and if any charity property "has been or is at risk".

Investigators will review the management of conflicts of interest, connected-party transactions and whether trustees have compiled with the charity's governing document.

The Commission said the inquiry had been opened "as a result of its regulatory concerns that there is or has been misconduct and/or mismanagement in the administration of the charity".

A family member, whose child has lived at William Blake House for many years, said 22 residents were likely to be impacted and more than 70 jobs were at risk.

They said they were grateful of the support of Sarah Bool, the Conservative MP for South Northamptonshire, who had "championed our cause in Parliament and ensured our voices were heard".

The family member said they were "relieved" that a statutory inquiry had been launched, recognising the seriousness of the concerns.

They are now calling for an independent board to work in the best interests of residents and staff, and to find a solution to the debt.

"It is vital that residents, families and frontline staff do not bear the consequences of decisions they did not make", they added.

During PMQs, Sir Ed urged the Prime Minister to meet families who have a proposed a rescue plan to take over the homes.

"There are very few homes in this country which offer this sort of care, and now it faces closure", he said.

"As a father of a disabled son, I can say this situation is one of my worst nightmares."

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