The Charity Commission has raised concerns about an Orpington-based organisation for the second time in two years.

This week (May 12-18) the regulatory body announced intentions to write to furniture resource charity give2give, asking questions about its figures for the last financial year.

The commission also contacted give2give at the end of 2012 with questions about its operation.

A spokeswoman explained: “The Commission has completed a scrutiny of the charity’s accounts and we have some questions to put to the trustees, including clarification of why the fund raising costs are so high compared to funds applied for direct charitable expenditure.

“We will be writing to the charity with our questions and will await a response before determining whether any further action should be taken.”

Give2give told News Shopper it is working to reduce costs, such as high rents, and has introduced a new programme to do more for those in need.

A spokeswoman said: “We responded to an initial enquiry from the Charity Commission in late 2012 about the level of charitable benefit provided to the community.

“This resulted in revised charitable objects being approved by the Charity Commission in March 2013. We introduced the ‘Giving Back’ programme to provide greater charitable benefit to Bromley people.

“We continue to actively develop the programme, and work with Bromley community groups and social welfare agencies to ensure the re-use of donated goods through the furniture and charity shops benefits local people in need.

“The shops enable us to raise funds to support the whole range of charitable activities. Being based in Bromley means the fundraising costs which include shop rental, utilities, vehicle and staff costs, are relatively high, and therefore the trustees have made it a priority to reduce these costs.”

Give2give reported a reduction in costs of 17.5 per cent, £112,000, during 2012/13 and added it expects this trend to continue.

It also said the details on the Charity Commission website, which highlight the significant differences between costs and expenditure, do not reflect the changes implemented.

Those accounts show August 2012 to July 2013, but the reviewed activities were only put in place in March last year.

Give2give formed in 2003 and is now one of the borough’s leading set-ups helping people find affordable pre-owned furniture.