The Scottish charity regulator has opened an inquiry into the Amina Muslim Women’s Resource Centre after receiving concerns about the charity.

The charity, which is based in Glasgow but also has an office in Dundee, supports Muslim, black and minority ethnic women on a range of issues, including domestic abuse, employability, wellbeing and financial security.

A spokesperson for the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator said it had opened an investigation into the charity.

‘We can confirm that we have received concerns about Amina,” the spokesperson said. “Following our assessment of these, we have opened an inquiry into the charity. 

“As this process is ongoing, it would not be appropriate to comment further at this time.”

The regulator was unable to confirm the aims of the investigation, but the BBC reported that the OSCR was investigating “governance matters as well as financial management including alleged discrepancies in expenditure and consultancy fees, accuracy of record-keeping and an alleged lack of financial controls”.

The BBC said the inquiry was “sparked by a complaint that some trustees said they were not given satisfactory answers when enquiring about expenditure costs, which they claim were not approved by the board”.

The complaint also included an allegation that a “toxic” workplace culture was being fostered at the organisation, the BBC said.

The Amina Muslim Women’s Resource Centre declined to comment when approached by Third Sector, but Mariam Ahmed, the charity’s chief executive, told the BBC that the allegations were “unfounded”, adding that the charity was “complying with OSCR with full transparency”.

She said: “We have robust governance and financial processes in place. We comply with all our legal and funded responsibilities.”

According to its latest accounts filed with Companies House, Amina recorded a total income of £647,512 in the year to the end of March 2023, £602,993 of which was spent on salaries and running costs.

The charity had an average monthly number of 25 employees during the 2022/23 financial year, the accounts show.

Amina received more than 2,500 calls on its confidential national helpline for Muslim, black and minority ethnic women during this period and its helpline team supported almost 170 clients through casework, the accounts show.