A group of families are demanding an urgent inquiry into a specialist residential care charity in Northamptonshire that is facing potential closure after accumulating debts of £1.6 million in unpaid taxes and making substantial payments to one of its own trustees.
Charity Faces Winding Up Threat Over HMRC Debts
William Blake House, which provides therapeutic care inspired by Rudolf Steiner's teachings for adults with learning disabilities, autism and complex needs, has been given just weeks by a judge to settle its debts with HM Revenue and Customs or face a winding up order. The charity's financial statements reveal that auditors have repeatedly raised concerns about its viability as a going concern.
Families Express Grave Concerns Over Governance
Seventeen families with relatives at the facility have issued a powerful statement expressing their shattered trust in the charity's management. "Our relatives are some of the most vulnerable adults in society and entirely dependent on stable, continuous care," they stated. "This trust has been shattered and serious mismanagement and lack of governance revealed. Our children's wellbeing has been placed in jeopardy."
The families emphasise they have no criticism of the actual care provided to residents, but fear the future of their loved ones has been compromised by financial mismanagement.
Substantial Payments to Trustee's Company Questioned
Financial records reveal particularly concerning transactions. Despite the charity's deteriorating financial position, it has paid more than £800,000 in strategy fees and £240,000 in consultancy fees to Van Kruger Consulting, a company solely owned by William Blake House's chair, Bushra Hamid.
These payments were authorised by the charity's board to develop a "Steiner strategy" business that would sell online training courses, though this venture has yet to launch. The charity's assets have meanwhile plummeted from £920,000 to just £200,000 between 2022 and 2024.
Regulatory Bodies Take Notice
The Charity Commission has confirmed it has opened a regulatory compliance case into potential governance concerns at William Blake House. A spokesperson stated they are engaging with the charity's trustees about these matters.
West Northamptonshire Council, which has statutory responsibilities for social care provision in the area, said it was "deeply concerned" and in ongoing discussions with the charity about what it described as "serious governance and financial issues."
Charity's Response and Proposed Solution
William Blake House has attributed its financial challenges to high agency staff costs and what it claims was the previous failure of local authorities to raise contract fees in line with inflation. The charity says it has resumed regular PAYE payments to HMRC since October 2024.
To address its tax debts, the charity plans to sell land to a developer who would then build a new residential care facility and lease it back to William Blake House. The charity states it has made "tangible progress" toward this sale, with a deadline of 30 March to settle with HMRC.
Regarding the substantial payments to the trustee's company, William Blake House claims the £800,000 investment in the Steiner strategy would be repaid by Steiner Friends, another charity chaired by Hamid and associated with William Blake House.
Interconnected Trustee Relationships
The governance structure reveals interconnected relationships among trustees. The current three trustees include Paula Allen, a business associate of chair Bushra Hamid. Both Hamid and Allen also serve together as trustees at the Shoosmith Centre, a Northampton-based arts gallery charity where Allen additionally serves as interim chief executive on a £30,000 annual salary.
Allen is also a trustee of Steiner Friends, the charity expected to repay the £800,000 investment in the online training strategy.
Significant Public Funding at Stake
The situation involves substantial public resources, with local councils and the NHS spending approximately £3 million annually on placements at William Blake House. The facility's 22 adult residents require round-the-clock support for their complex care needs.
Laura Couse, West Northamptonshire Council's cabinet member for adult care and public health, emphasised: "It is our absolute priority to ensure the wellbeing of the residents – making sure they are fully supported."
The families maintain they have been kept in the dark by the charity's board and management about the mounting debts relating to non-payment of staff PAYE and national insurance contributions, raising serious questions about transparency and accountability in an organisation caring for society's most vulnerable members.
