southwalesmedia.co.uk

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CANDO – Carmarthen & Aberystwyth Neurodiverse Outreach has confirmed that two former officers have been removed from their roles following internal governance and safeguarding concerns.

The group says former Treasurer C W Owen was removed by committee decision after concerns were raised about his conduct, failure to provide financial information to the committee and Chairman, failure to provide annual accounts, failure to provide an asset register, and wider safeguarding concerns.

CANDO also says former Secretary S L Jones was removed from her role after failing to carry out key secretary duties, including preparing agendas, recording minutes of meetings, maintaining proper committee records, and typing formal correspondence requested by the Chairman.

The group says both former officers no longer have authority to act for, speak for, represent or make decisions on behalf of CANDO.

CANDO says Mr Owen has been asked repeatedly over a period of more than two months to return CANDO property, paperwork, financial records and equipment.

The items requested include committee and accounting paperwork, grant and financial records, a CANDO laptop, memory upgrade, RAM upgrade, printer, mouse, power supply and laptop bag, valued at many hundreds of pounds that the small 100% volunteer run group can not afford to lose.

CANDO says those items were obtained or held in connection with the former Treasurer role and should now be returned to the current committee.

The group says Mrs Jones has also been asked to return any CANDO documents, records, minutes, agendas, correspondence, equipment or materials still in her possession which also includes a printer.

CANDO says the issue is not a personal dispute, but a matter of governance, public accountability, safeguarding and the protection of community-group property and records.

The current committee says it has appointed a new Treasurer and Secretary and is working to strengthen governance, safeguarding, record-keeping and financial controls.

Despite these difficulties, CANDO is continuing to grow and support neurodiverse people across West Wales. The group has now established a permanent CANDO presence at Carmarthen Library, where it is already welcoming new members and continuing its community support work.

From 12 August, CANDO will also be opening another new group at St Dogmaels, Cardigan, extending support into a further community. This progress has only been possible thanks to the generosity and support of local councils, Connecting Carmarthenshire, community partners and individual supporters. CANDO is a 100% volunteer-run group and relies entirely on donations, grants and goodwill to provide its support, equipment and community sessions.

The group says it has given both former officers further opportunity to confirm whether they intend to return CANDO property and records. It says that, if property and records are not returned or arrangements are not made, the matter may be referred to Dyfed-Powys Police as suspected unlawful retention of CANDO property and records.

Mr Owen and Mrs Jones have been offered the opportunity to comment. Any response received will be considered before publication.