The Charity Commission has closed its compliance case into City
of Sanctuary UK, finding no evidence of wrongdoing.
City of
Sanctuary UK works to advance
education relating to asylum seekers and
refugees, and to promote equality and
diversity.
The Commission opened a case following a complaint
made in August 2025 alleging inappropriate political
activity, particularly relating to the charity's Schools of
Sanctuary programme.
In particular, concerns were raised over the
charity's activities in
schools, including the claim that school children
were being encouraged to send Valentine's Day cards to
adult asylum seekers. This allegation had been
circulating online and was also reported in the media.
Findings
Following a detailed review
and a meeting with the
charity's trustees, the regulator did not find evidence
to support these allegations.
The regulator examined specific concerns about the charity's
educational resources, its use of language and its activities –
particularly in relation to the allegation around the Valentine's
Day card activity. Heart-shaped general messages of
welcome to refugees were displayed in schools, with
some sent to a separate charity supporting refugees for display
in its premises. The trustees explained that at no point did
children write cards to individual adult asylum seekers or
refugees.
The Commission found no evidence of inappropriate
political activity by the charity, or activity that falls
outside of its purposes. The charity's criticism
of aspects of government policy was permissible
under charity law in the context of the
charity's registered purpose of supporting refugees
and asylum seekers and did not amount to
a breach of charities' obligation to remain
independent of party-political bias. The trustees
explained that politicians from different parties
support its work and local authorities of various political
compositions help deliver its programmes.
More generally, the Commission found the charity's
approach to educational activities permissible
under charity law, noting educational material does not need
to be completely value-free, and in this
case could reflect the charity's viewpoint that people
seeking sanctuary should be welcomed and supported.
The Commission is concerned that City of
Sanctuary UK faced a misinformation campaign,
including threats to charity trustees and staff, in relation
to the Valentine's Day card allegations.
Helen Earner, Director of Regulatory
Services at the
Charity Commission, said:
The Commission speaks out when charities fall short of their
legal responsibilities, but we also have a
role in affirming the right of charities
to further their purposes within the law, even where some
may strongly disagree with their views.
Charities have operated in contested areas of social
policy for centuries, and as such, need
to accept that not everyone will agree with
their position or be supportive of their cause, and
that they may be subject to criticism.
In this case however, concerns about the charity's
work were fuelled
by online misinformation, something charities are
increasingly subject to and a concern for us as
regulator. While we can't fact check
every concern about every charity, sometimes
the high profile of allegations means
it is right for us to set the record straight
where allegations cannot be substantiated.
After examining the available evidence, we
found the claims to be misleading, and that
the Schools of Sanctuary programme is within the
charity's purposes and complies with our
guidance on campaigning and political activity. We are
satisfied the trustees understand their regulatory obligations.
