Swindon and Wiltshire Pride says it referred itself to the Charity Commission after it emerged a former chairman had been jailed in Australia for child sex offences.

Lee Clarke was reportedly jailed for 15 months in New South Wales in 2014 for possession of indecent images of children.

In early 2018 he was acting chairman of Swindon and Wiltshire Pride, after the organisation’s previous committee stood down. His efforts to put on a pride event that summer were unsuccessful.

Later that year, a new committee was formed and the organisation became a charity in March 2019. The trustees say they contacted the Charity Commission themselves after the committee became aware of Clarke’s conviction.

Commission

In a statement, the Charity Commission said it had received assurances that the organisation had strengthened its safeguarding policies.

The commission said: “We opened a regulatory compliance case to look into concerns about an individual who was acting chair of Swindon and Wiltshire Pride from January 2018 to May 2018.  

“As part of our engagement, we questioned the trustees and received assurances that the charity has strengthened its policies and procedures around safeguarding. We issued the charity with regulatory advice under section 15(2) of the Charities Act to ensure these are fully adhered to going forward.”

Chairman of trustees Jo Sharpe said all of the charity’s volunteers who work with young people and vulnerable adults were subject to an enhanced criminal record check.  She said: “The robust action we have taken in the years since this incident ensure that someone with an unspent conviction for child sexual offences could not become a volunteer for Swindon and Wiltshire Pride.”

Swindon and Wiltshire Pride’s statement in full

We are aware of news articles that have been published regarding a volunteer that was part of this organisation before it became a charity. A statement on this matter was released in August 2019. We would like to take this opportunity to provide a factual update.

Swindon & Wiltshire Pride became a registered charity in March 2019, 11 months after Mr Clarke left the organisation. However, upon receiving information about Mr Clarke’s conviction, the trustees informed the Charity Commission in August 2019, entirely in accordance with the Commission’s advice and guidance.

Earlier this year we worked with the Charity commission to ensure that this type of incident does not happen again. Our charitable status ensures we are fully regulated and have policies and procedures in place to protect us and the community we serve.

We are grateful to the Charity Commission for considering the matter and providing us with appropriate advice and confirmed that our Charity has a suitable Safeguarding Policy in place. Our Safeguarding Policy requires that all volunteers who work with young people and vulnerable adults are subject to an Enhanced Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) check. Along with specific roles completing Designated Safeguarding Lead Training and Trustee Safeguarding training.

The current trustees of Swindon & Wiltshire Pride are fully committed to ensuring that safeguarding policies are followed and that their Pride events are a safe space for everyone. The robust action we have taken in the years since this incident ensure that someone with an unspent conviction for child sexual offences could not become a volunteer for Swindon & Wiltshire Pride.