The Charity Commission has targeted educational charities in its latest guidance which seeks to prevent the abuse of organisations by extremists and terrorists.
Released today, the latest chapter in the Protecting Charities from Harm guidance series warns that there have been occasions when charity events have been used by extremists and terrorists to influence those "at particular risk of radicalisation", by speaking at events or distributing literature.
While the guidance is relevant for all charities, it is particularly targeted at those which host regular events involving external speakers, and those with educational purposes, the Commission advised.
In addition to the guide the Commission will soon be launching a series of events for universities and student unions "to discuss issues raised by the guidance".
Most universities in England are 'exempt' charities, not regulated by the Charity Commission. However the guidelines instruct trustees of these institutions to be diligent and report any extremist promotion to the relevant regulator.
The guidance attempts to distinguish between "controversial" views and "criminal" views, advising trustees that the latter "are clearly not acceptable under any circumstances for charities to promote".
"It will be a criminal matter if a charity runs an event or publishes material which glorifies terrorism or incites racial or religious hatred. Trustees and other charity representatives may also be at risk of committing a criminal offence in carrying out their role where, for example, they popularise ideas or policies that are espoused by and closely associated with terrorist groups," reads the guidance.
In addition student unions and higher education institutions are warned that they should take an interest in the activities and views expressed via affiliated societies and materials available on university or student union premises, as well as websites and social media spaces.
The document has been produced in part as a response to the government's 'Prevent' counter-terrorism strategy, which warns that the current threat level to the UK from international terrorism is 'severe'. Prevent was initially launched in 2007 to help prevent the support of and initiation into terrorism. It was reviewed in 2011 by Lord Carlile who says it "provides a template for challenging the extremist ideas and terrorist actions which seek to undermine the rule of law and fundamental British political values and institutions".
Subsequent to the announcement of spending cuts amounting to a third of the Commission's funding in 2011, the regulator advised that counter-terrorism would remain one of its top priorities.
