A London-based Jewish charity has been given an official warning after fundraising for an Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) soldier.
The Charity Commission found that the trustees of Chabad Lubavitch Centres North East London and Essex Limited acted outside of the charity’s purposes and failed to safeguard its reputation and best interests by supporting a foreign military.
The charity – whose purposes are to advance the orthodox Jewish religion, education and to relieve poverty and sickness – set up a fundraising campaign in October 2023 to raise funds for an IDF soldier stationed in northern Israel.
Its campaign, now removed, raised around £2,280. While £937 was sent directly to the soldier, the trustees used the remaining funds to buy non-lethal military equipment and sent them to the soldier.
The commission, which received over 180 complaints on the charity’s activities, opened a regulatory compliance case into the charity in December 2023.
It concluded that the fundraising activity was outside the charity’s purposes and that the trustees failed to act in the best interests of the charity.
“This was misconduct and/or mismanagement in the administration of charity, as well as a breach of trust,” the commission stated.
Not legal to provide aid to foreign military
The official warning imposes a number of requirements on the charity’s trustees, which they must adhere to or face further regulatory actions.
Trustees must ensure the charity’s activities, including fundraising, are aligned with its purposes, document how activities and decisions by trustees are in the best interest of the charity and consider implementing a risk assessment/management policy to manage risks within the charity.
Charities with appropriate purposes can raise funds to promote the UK armed forces, but providing aid or military supplies to any foreign armed force is not a charitable purpose and no charity can legally carry out such activity, the regulator stated.
Helen Earner, director for regulatory services at the commission, said: “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.”
Charity: ‘This won’t happen again’
Chabad Lubavitch Centres’ trustees said in a statement: “In the immediate aftermath of 7 October, there was concern, fuelled 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.”
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