Charles Turner and Emma Mifsud of Opus Advisory Group have been appointed by the Charity Commission as Interim Managers of CG Community Council, following a statutory inquiry into the charity’s governance and financial management.
Charles and Emma, both Partners at Opus, assume responsibility for the day-to-day management and administration of the charity, to the exclusion of its trustee, under powers exercised by the Charity Commission.
Interim Manager appointments are relatively uncommon and are reserved for cases where the Charity Commission considers formal intervention is necessary to protect a charity’s interests while its statutory inquiry continues.
Charles Turner said, “Appointments of this nature are unusual and in this case involves taking complete control of the property portfolio so that it can be appropriately managed with a view to sale. Our role is to establish the facts, secure and protect the charity’s assets, understand its current position and ensure appropriate governance and management arrangements are in place while determining the charity’s future.”
He continued, “The immediate priority is undertaking a comprehensive assessment of the charity’s affairs, including its property interests, financial position and operational responsibilities, so that informed decisions can be made in the best interests of the charity and its beneficiaries.”
The appointment follows a lengthy Charity Commission investigation and required Opus to mobilise a multidisciplinary team capable of responding at short notice.
A key part of the appointment is Opus’ dedicated in-house Property Recovery & Advisory team, led by Director Hayley Tregarthen, which provides specialist expertise in managing complex property portfolios. The team will support the Interim Managers in understanding the charity’s property position, ensuring appropriate insurance and compliance arrangements are in place, engaging with relevant stakeholders and determining the most appropriate way forward.
The wider appointment also draws on Opus’ specialist investigations expertise, enabling the firm to combine restructuring, forensic investigation and property advisory services within a single team.
Charles added, “One of the reasons we were appointed is our ability to bring together specialist skills under one roof. Alongside our experience supporting charities through periods of change, we can deploy restructuring professionals, investigators and property specialists quickly, giving the Charity Commission immediate access to the expertise needed for a complex appointment such as this.”
Although Interim Manager appointments are uncommon, Opus has significant and broad experience working with charities, education providers and voluntary sector organisations.
Charles Turner has served on the Charity Commission’s Interim Manager panel since 2019 and has acted on numerous appointments involving charities facing governance and operational challenges. Alongside formal appointments, Opus regularly advises charities on turnaround, restructuring and governance, helping organisations preserve charitable services wherever possible.
Emma Mifsud added, “Much of our work with charities is focused on helping organisations overcome challenges and continue delivering valuable services to their communities. In situations where formal regulatory intervention becomes necessary, our objective remains the same: protecting charitable assets, acting in the interests of beneficiaries and helping establish the most appropriate path forward.”
Commenting on Opus’ wider work in this sector, Charles concluded, “While Interim Manager appointments involve formal regulatory intervention, the majority of Opus’ charity work focuses on supporting organisations before matters reach that stage, helping charities restructure, secure funding, preserve services and protect jobs wherever possible.”
The Charity Commission’s inquiry into CG Community Council remains ongoing.
