The Charity Commission has opened a statutory inquiry into the Saint George Educational Trust (SGET) over serious regulatory concerns.
This is the fourth statutory inquiry the regulator has opened into the charity since 1997 and the second opened due concerns regarding the charity’s association with a far-right group.
The regulator wrote that concerns have been raised over the charity’s activities that do not seem to further its religious purposes, including material it has posted online and political activity or campaigning.
Anti-lockdown campaigning
The regulator ordered the trustees to review and remove content from its website and social media pages. Its Facebook page only shows three posts and its website is no longer accessible.
In 2020, the charity's chair Mick Fishwick raised £7,000 raised for the charity to support Italian organisation Vicit Leo, which opposed global Covid-19 lockdowns.
In a campaign letter Fishwick references, Vicit Leo suggests measures to control the spread of Covid-19 were a “crime against human rights”. The campaign letter asks for funds to be donated directly to SGET.
The Charity Commission launched its third inquiry into the charity in July 2022 after it failed to submit financial information for two or more years over the last five years. The fourth inquiry was opened last month, making its former inquiry cease; however, these financial concerns will be considered by the regulator in its new inquiry.
Bank account frozen
The Charity Commission’s inquiry will examine the administration, governance and management of the charity by the trustees including its relationship with external organisations and individuals. It will also examine the trustee’s conduct.
SGET’s financial accounts for the years 2020 and 2021 were both filed late. The Commission will look into the charity’s financial controls and management during the inquiry.
After opening the inquiry the Commission froze a bank account holding the charity’s funds so no one can access of move them without the regulator’s consent.
Civil Society News contacted Saint George Educational Trust for comment but did not receive a response.
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