The sector’s regulatory framework is being “weaponised” through “vexatious” complaints about charities, an event yesterday heard.
Louise Calvey, head of resettlement at Asylum Matters, made the comments when speaking at a panel event as part of the annual Directory of Social Change (DSC) conference.
Calvey said: “We certainly, in asylum services delivery, have seen the weaponisation of our regulatory framework.
“Many charities are having complaints submitted to the Charity Commission about them, and although those complaints generally are quite vexatious and are regulatory attacks on us, they take up an awful lot of organisational capacity and bandwidth.”
She said organisations like hers, and those working with LGBT+, disabled and other minoritised communities were being targeted by the “far-right” specifically.
“Your regulatory framework will be weaponised against you,” she said.
Commission ‘must do more’ to safeguard trustees
Calvey called on the commission to do more to protect trustees, those of colour in particular, from targeted attacks and the charities they serve.
The commission has removed the names of trustees from several charities on its register over the past year due to a potential safety risk from “far-right” threats.
Calvey, who has had her own details circulated, said: “We can't be bullied away from doing the valuable job that we do. The Charity Commission need to absolutely be doing more to safeguard the information of trustees and other charities and charity office holders.”
She said that charities with less money “are facing the most risk” as they cannot afford to pay for lawyers or other advice when targeted.
“Those charities are always excluded from things like Charity Commission dialogue,” she said.
“They don't have the platforms to go and meet with ministers in the way that they need to because they're the ones that need to be listened to and heard.”
Call for streamlined regulatory processes
Calvey also called on the commission to “have more streamlined regulatory processes” to prevent the smaller charities from being overwhelmed by complaints.
“Absolutely, someone's going to make a complaint, but it shouldn't be taking months of bandwidth on tiny charities that can't afford legal advice and getting through those processes,” she said.
“There needs to be more streamlined processes around that (…) that respect the fact that charity resources are getting gobbled up by this level of regulatory attack that they're facing.”
Last month, RNLI volunteers faced harassment and threats from anti-migrant groups over their work saving people who encounter difficulties when attempting to cross the Channel in small boats.
The commission has been approached for comment.
