It’s now some three months since we submitted a complaint to the Charity Commission regarding the governance issues surrounding Dr Halima Begum’s enforced departure from Oxfam. While the Commission have not provided any substantive response, yesterday the Observer published a further short article in which it states that the Commission opened a compliance case last year and that this will now include concerns regarding governance and leadership at Oxfam.

The article quotes the Commission directly: ‘In the light of the serious concerns raised we are considering issues relating to the governance and leadership of Oxfam GB as part of an ongoing compliance case. As part of this case, we are gathering information and engaging with trustees to inform our regulatory response.’

We are a long way from these issues being resolved, but thanks to the public pressure in response to Dr Halima Begum’s treatment, it looks as if this matter will not be simply overlooked. 

Thank you everyone. 

In other news, Halima will now be speaking at the second Northern Race Equality Conference to be held in Leeds on 15 June 2026. (see here for more details). Halima will be speaking on a panel: ‘Leaders of Colour: Breaking through the Concrete Ceiling’ and while she won’t be discussing any issues at Oxfam directly, she will be exploring the additional challenges faced by women from racialised minority communities in their career paths.

This seems like an appropriate time to quote a couple of stanza, from the poem, 'Still I Rise', by Maya Angelou:

Still I rise.

You may write me down in history
With your bitter, twisted lies,
You may trod me in the very dirt
But still, like dust, I'll rise.

Just like moons and like suns,
With the certainty of tides,
Just like hopes springing high,
Still I'll rise.

Did you want to see me broken?
Bowed head and lowered eyes?
Shoulders falling down like teardrops,
Weakened by my soulful cries?

Those of us who know Halima, knew of course that despite the vicious character assassination she has faced, and the ongoing smear campaign she has endured, it would not be long before she was back, doing what she does best, not just rising herself, but raising others up in the process. 

Thank you everyone, and of course, thank you Halima.