London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Thursday, Jan 23, 2025

Regulatory Reprimand for London Charity Over Fundraising for Israeli Soldier

Chabad Lubavitch Centres North East London and Essex Limited admonished by charity watchdog for breaching charity norms after Campaign
In a significant development, the Charity Commission has formally admonished Chabad Lubavitch Centres North East London and Essex Limited after investigating a fundraising initiative aimed at supporting an Israeli soldier.

The north London-based charity set up a fundraising page in October 2023, in the immediate aftermath of a terrorist attack by Hamas, to collect funds for an Israel Defense Forces (IDF) soldier stationed in northern Israel.

The fundraising initiative, which raised approximately £2,280 before its deletion in January 2024, allocated £937 directly to an individual soldier.

Funds were also spent on purchasing non-lethal military equipment, which trustees subsequently transferred to the same soldier.

This action, however, contradicted established charity regulations, which strictly prohibit providing aid or military equipment to foreign armed forces, leading to an official warning from the Charity Commission.

Helen Earner, Director for Regulatory Services at the Charity Commission, articulated the rationale behind the commission's decision: 'It is not lawful, or acceptable, for a charity to raise funds to support a soldier of a foreign military.

Our Official Warning requires the charity to set things right and is a clear message to other charities to stay true to their established purposes.

Any failure by the charity to implement the requirements in the Official Warning may lead to further regulatory action.'

The regulatory inquiry was triggered by 180 public complaints and concluded that the charity's fundraising activities deviated from its declared objectives.

The Charity Commission's findings highlighted instances of misconduct and/or mismanagement, alongside breaches of trust.

The charity's stated purposes include advancing orthodox Jewish religion, promoting orthodox Jewish education, and relieving poverty and sickness.

In its defense, the charity released a statement expressing their intention to supply warm clothing for Israeli reservists in response to emerging social media narratives about insufficient gear.

'In the immediate aftermath of 7 October, there was concern, fueled by social media reports, that due to the haste and sheer numbers of reservists being called up, there was not anything like enough winter clothing and protective gear to keep these young people safe from harm.

Understandably, our community wanted to help.

We acknowledge that in facilitating a campaign to provide warm clothing and the like, however briefly and however modest its results, the charity exceeded its purposes and we are grateful for the guidance provided by the Charity Commission to ensure that this won’t happen again,' said a spokesperson for the charity.

Despite the transgression, the charity, which expends approximately £766,000 annually on charitable activities, stands committed to its core objectives and is aligning its future activities in compliance with charity law.

The incident serves as a poignant reminder for charities to strictly adhere to their declared missions while addressing pressing humanitarian needs.

Charitable institutions in the UK are authorized to raise funds for enhancing the efficiency of UK armed forces.

However, fundraising for military forces outside of the UK remains outside permissible boundaries, underscoring the necessity for charities to exercise due diligence in their operational undertakings.
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Germany’s Democracy Under Strain: Political Labeling Sparks Free Speech Concerns
The Trump Era 2: A Time of Dramatic and Profound Change
BlackRock CEO Larry Fink Suggests Bitcoin Could Reach $700,000 with Increased Institutional Investment
Leaked Documents Reveal Google's Collaboration with Israeli Defense Forces During Gaza Conflict
Trump to Announce $500 Billion AI Infrastructure Investment
Dear President Donald Trump, I want to assure you that this fraud does NOT reflect the opinions of the majority of decent British citizens.
Olaf Scholz vs. Elon Musk: A Battle Over Common Sense, Which Scholz Appears to Be Missing
EU’s Overregulation Drives Innovation Collapse and Brain Drain
Five Billionaires on Track to Break One Trillion Dollar Wealth Barrier
TikTok Restored in the U.S. Following Trump inauguration
Bill Ackman Praises Social Media Platform X as 'The New Media'
Argentina Achieves Record Trade Surplus in 2024 Under President Milei
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni Proposes Rome as European Union Capital
France Urges EU to Act on Musk's Political Influence as Tensions Rise
Former Special Forces Blast Defense Ministry for Revealing Sensitive Details
Celebrity Responses to California Wildfires: Charity, Criticism, and Controversy
The Wildfires of Los Angeles: A Devastating Impact on Celebrities and California's Leadership
Tragic Loss: Teenager's Death Sparks Community Reflection in Bedford and London
UK Government Proposes Cap on Resale Ticket Prices to Combat Touts
Greenland's Future Caught in Diplomatic Crossfire Between Trump and Europe
EU Prepared to Lead Support for Ukraine Amid US Uncertainty, Says Estonian Prime Minister
Brompton E-Bike Component Diverted to UK Military Drone Production, Causes Delays
Romanian Gang Convicted of Human Trafficking and Exploitation in Dundee
Persistent Cold Snap Grips the UK: Severe Frost and Snow Disrupt Daily Life
Germany Faces Alarming Rise in Homelessness, New Report Shows
China’s Appetite for Salmon: A Game Changer in Global Seafood Markets
Russian Bots Allegedly Amplified NATO Critic Prior to Croatian Election, Researchers Reveal
Armenia Considers EU Membership Referendum Amid Strained Ties with Russia
French Finance Minister Explores Pension Reform Compromise to Secure Budget Agreement
Armenia Considers EU Referendum Amid Growing Rift with Russia
New Wildfire Ignites in Los Angeles as Region Battles Devastating Blazes
The Espionage Unraveled: A Russian Spy Network's Intricacies in the UK
U.S. Supreme Court Rejects Trump's Bid to Delay Sentencing in Hush Money Case
UK Financial Markets Remain Calm Amid Rising Government Borrowing Costs
Stellantis Achieves UK Electric Vehicle Sales Mandate Amid Factory Closure
TikTok Faces Potential Ban in the United States Amid Security Concerns
Pound Plummets to 14-Month Low Amid Concerns Over UK Borrowing Costs
Tensions Rise Over Planned Pro-Palestinian March in London
Bomb Scare in Central London: Abandoned Car Sparks Panic Near Regent Street
Police Seek Suspect in Antisemitic Incident at Liverpool Street Station
Regulatory Reprimand for London Charity Over Fundraising for Israeli Soldier
The Duchess of Sussex Mourns Devastating Loss of Beloved Rescue Dog
From Chairman to Controversial Politician: Rupert Lowe's Journeys in Business and Politics
Metropolitan Police Halts Pro-Palestine March Near BBC Due to Proximity to Synagogue
Inside Warwick Hospital: A Glimpse into the NHS's Battle Against Winter Pressures
Chappell Roan: A Synth-Pop Sensation Emerges as BBC Sound Of 2025 Winner
Search Intensifies for Missing Aberdeen Sisters Eliza and Henrietta Huszti
Pioneering Drug Consumption Room Opens in Glasgow
Ryanair Initiates Legal Action Against Disruptive Passenger in Landmark Case
Former Brexit Negotiator Oliver Robbins Appointed Top Civil Servant at UK Foreign Office
×