A DISPUTE at the heart of the international charity Barnabas Aid broke into the open this week, with claims and counter-claims about applications, dismissals, and a “toxic work environment”.

In a letter dated 14 August, Colin Bloom, who writes that he was appointed interim international chief executive in April, writes to supporters about “some significant and deeply saddening developments” at the charity.

Whistle-blowers had made allegations against Dr Patrick Sookhdeo (international director), Caroline Kerslake (international director of projects), Prasad Phillips (deputy international director), and Noel Frost (then international chief executive) earlier this year. They were all suspended pending investigations.

An interim report “by an independent third-party law firm” had identified “serious and repeated contraventions of internal policies”, his letter continues. Some of those named were responsible for “creating a toxic work environment” that left staff unable to voice concerns. Furthermore, the interim report had “brought to light evidence of serious financial impropriety”, he writes.

Mr Frost was dismissed in June, the letter says. Last week, the chairs of Barnabas Aid in Australia, New Zealand, the United States, and the UK wrote to Dr Sookhdeo, Ms Kerslake and Dr Phillips, “requiring them all to resign from Barnabas Aid”.

But on Wednesday, a statement from the Barnabas UK board was sent to supporters from Philip Richards. In it, he writes that he was appointed chairman of Barnabas Aid by a majority of the board in April.

He continues by apologising for Mr Bloom’s letter. “This letter was not authorised by the Board of Barnabas Aid. Indeed Colin Bloom has not been appointed by the Board of Barnabas Aid. The investigation to which he refers has not been approved by the Board of Barnabas Aid.

“Colin Bloom is employed by an American not for profit organisation called Nexcus International which has seized control of the operations of Barnabas Aid and has been using the database without the consent of the Board of Barnabas Aid.”

The independent accountants’ report cited by Mr Bloom was an interim report, Mr Richards says, which has not yet been considered by the board. Both sides in the dispute say that the Charity Commission has been informed.