Troubled charity sets up home in Rochdale

Agapao International exposed in Private Eye

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A charity that has been the subject of much concern in Rossendale, and whose activities have earned them condemnation in the House of Commons, has decamped from its previous headquarters in Haslingden and moved to premises at 169 Drake Street, Rochdale.

The charity, Agapao International, has been accused of recently attempting to sell what has been described as ‘a much-needed community asset, namely the Agapao Impact Centre, for its own gain and to put right financial mismanagement. The building had been built and refurbished with £300,000 of public money and lottery money and gifted to the charity on the condition that it be used only for community purposes.

The charity was forced to halt the sale of the building, formally the Mary Hindle Centre in Haslingden, after intervention by local MP Graham Jones. The building housed various charitable and community projects such as the Sophie Lancaster Trust, Rossendale Radio and Home Start, a family support charity.

Concerns had been raised locally that Agapao wrongly diverted charity money destined for international aid work after it had misguidedly tried to rescue the local radio station when it hit financial problems.

The activities of Agapao International have also drawn the interest of the satirical magazine, ‘Private Eye’.

This is relatively small-fry compared to events in Uganda where staff from a breakaway organisation, Agapao Uganda, has accused the charity of “a lack of accountability, misuse of funds and violation of the charity’s constitution.”

Many of the allegations surround the activities of Agapao Chief Executive Louise Chicot. In August 2011, Ms Chicot is alleged to have collected 20 street children in the town of Jinja in Uganda and left them with Agapao Jinja’s then manager Moses Wanda without a plan to support them, although temporary structures were built to house them before Ms Chicot left. Some money was sent after a gap of a month but after March 2012 the promised money dried up and arrangements were made locally to secure the safety and future of the children.

Ms Chicot describes herself on a networking site as a: ‘Visionary, Humanitarian, Social Entrepreneur, Speaker, Personal & Community Development Advisor.'

Agapao claims to be a global organisation that works in Africa, India, Pakistan and Nepal. On its website, the charity, whose name is said to mean 'I love you unconditionally', says in its mission statement: “Agapao International strives to inspire and empower individuals and communities globally: encouraging skills through training and support to develop sustainability.

"A candles [sic] loses nothing by lighting another candle, so by helping people to 'learn the skill: use the skill: share the skill' many communities see a lasting change and improvement.”

The website gives very few hard facts about it activities but it describes its aims as:

· Share knowledge & skills

· Promote education & health

· Develop communities

· Create global partnerships

· Empower people to help themselves

Graham Jones MP has said that he “... does not find it acceptable that an asset, the Mary Hindle Centre, paid for and refurbished with £300.000 of public money, should be disposed of by anyone, let alone a local charity that has fallen on hard times.”

Mr Jones has also raised concerns about the self governance of Agapao International: “...whilst not illegal, seems to be mainly friends and family of the Director; some of whom have admitted to the Charity Commission that they have not had their eye on the ball.”

Mr Jones has also raised concerns about what he describes as “...missing assets on Agapao’s accounts and disproportionate salary payments.”

It is unclear at this stage why Agapao International has decided to relocate to Rochdale.

We have attempted to contact them in connection with this report but they have not returned our calls.