The Saint George Educational Trust, a Hampshire-based charity founded in 1994 to advance Catholic education, has been shut down following a statutory inquiry by the Charity Commission. The investigation, launched in October 2022, revealed extensive financial mismanagement, governance failures, and inappropriate political activities.
Trustees Removed and Charity Dissolved
As a result of the inquiry’s findings, the Charity Commission has removed the charity’s trustees and appointed Interim Managers to oversee the charity’s dissolution. The investigation was prompted by concerns that the charity’s activities did not align with its religious mission and involved improper financial practices.
David Holdsworth, Chief Executive of the Charity Commission, stated:
“This was a flagrant abuse of charity and a betrayal of the public’s trust.”
Holdsworth commended the Commission’s swift actions to recover public funds and hold the trustees accountable.
Key Findings of the Inquiry
The investigation uncovered a series of serious misconduct and irregularities, including:
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Fraudulent Gift Aid Claims:
The trustees permitted the charity’s bank account to receive “donations” from unknown sources, which were subsequently transferred to undisclosed entities. They claimed £80,455.75 in Gift Aid from HMRC, retaining 20% and forwarding the rest to unidentified accounts. After investigation, HMRC disallowed these claims, and the Commission recovered £146,166.14, including interest and penalties. -
Unusual Asset Management:
The inquiry found that over £30,000 of charity funds had been converted into gold bullion, held by individuals unrelated to the organisation. Additionally, rare books and religious items worth tens of thousands were stored in an unsecured unit not controlled by the charity. -
Lack of Oversight:
The trustees failed to properly verify the sources of incoming funds or adequately monitor their use, neglecting their fundamental duty to act in the charity’s best interests. -
Inappropriate Online Content:
The charity’s website and social media contained posts linked to a far-right political group leader and pro-Hezbollah content, which was entirely unrelated to the charity’s stated religious mission.
Public Outrage and Reaction
The revelations have sparked outrage among the public, with many expressing disappointment in how the charity was misused. One user on X posted:
“Shocking to see a charity misused like this—trust in nonprofits takes a hit.”
Another added:
“Good on the Commission for stepping in, but how did it go unnoticed for so long?”
Swift Regulatory Action
In response to the findings, the Charity Commission froze more than £500,000 of the charity’s assets and mandated the removal of inappropriate online content. With assistance from the police, the gold bullion was recovered and sold, allowing the repayment of the misclaimed Gift Aid to HMRC.
In January 2025, the trustees were disqualified from holding positions in any charity within England and Wales. The Interim Managers are now tasked with securing remaining assets, including the stored religious items, and settling the charity’s debts. Any surplus funds will be redirected to legitimate Catholic charities with similar aims.
Statement from the Charity Commission
Joshua Farbridge, Head of Compliance Visits and Inspections, said:
“The charity was used to promote harmful views and make improper claims. This may seem like fiction, but it’s all too real. We are committed to maintaining public trust by holding those responsible accountable.”
What Happens Next?
The charity’s dissolution process is underway, and the Charity Commission has pledged to continue monitoring similar organisations to prevent such misconduct. Authorities have urged the public to remain vigilant and report any concerns regarding charitable misuse.
Restoring Public Trust
The incident highlights the need for stronger governance and oversight in the charity sector. Experts have called for more rigorous checks and accountability mechanisms to prevent similar cases from slipping through the system.
For now, the Saint George Educational Trust serves as a stark reminder of how charitable status can be exploited, with the Commission vowing to learn from this case to protect the integrity of the charity sector.
