Capricorn is Closed
Sheila Stewart has now been banned from being a trustee or management for 15 years
Inquiry Report 2022
Animals Removed 2018
“Some 137 animals have seen their futures safeguarded as a consequence of this operation, and the RSPCA will now work to ensure the animals enjoy the highest possible standards of care long into the future.” - RSPCA
Interim Manager Appointed by Commission 2018
Tel: 02070634000
Email: CAR@Mazars.co.uk
"Serious issues around culture, professionalism, capability, resource management and governance have been found to be unresolvable." - Mazars
Inquiry Opened 2017
After 4 years of Volunteers complaining and investigating the issues, a formal Inquiry was opened under Section 46 of the Charities Act 2011.
An inquiry was opened by the Charity Commission on the 9th Feb 2017.
"there were clear and on-going serious regulatory issues relating to the administration of the charity by the trustees. These included inadequate financial controls, failure to safeguard and properly account for the charity’s assets, potential unauthorised trustee benefit and the trustees’ failure to act on regulatory advice. "
"In order to protect the assets of the charity, the Commission has taken steps to freeze the charity’s bank accounts under section 76(3)(d) of the Charities Act 2011."
Charity Commission 2016
BBC Wales Undercover 2016
Week In Week Out investigation
Protests 2016
Leaflet from Protest in 2016
Extraordinary General Meeting 2015
Volunteers started to fight back. Gaining trusteeships and formalising the process of change. Calling for an Extraordinary meeting as required in the constitution to expose some of the issues and give information to members who had been contacted with untruths from Sheila Stewart.
Financial Issues
In 2015 Capricorn Animal Rescue only conformed with 5 out of 99 of the Charity Commission's Internal financial controls for charities checklist.
A selection of the outgoing transactions were reviewed from the charity bank account for 2015, of which there are a total of 1,439 - only 73 debit card transactions were looked at. Of these 93% were questionable.
Animal Welfare issues and serious concerns 2014
Parties in charity shop by Sheils Stewarts son and his mates. Volunteers had seen boot full of booze on several occasions when he had gone to get things for the centre like binbags. Even at that stage we were confident those items would have been purchased with charitable funds.
Sheila and her son then proceeded to sack the Mold charity shop manager when she started to ask questions about cash handling and how the son was able to just take money from the till for lunch for him and his mates.