A charity focused on aiding refugees has been vindicated after an investigation dismissed allegations of misconduct related to a program welcoming migrants in schools. The inquiry revealed that claims suggesting the organization encouraged students to send Valentine’s Day cards to asylum seekers were unfounded and misleading.
City of Sanctuary UK faced significant backlash last year amid online speculation that their educational initiative involved children being “coerced” into crafting heart-shaped welcome cards for adult migrants. This included claims of cards addressed to “my fiancé.”
In response to the controversy, Conservative MP Gavin Williamson lodged an official complaint against City of Sanctuary in August, asserting that the charity acted improperly and violated laws by engaging in a “highly politicized” manner.
However, a report released on Tuesday by the regulatory body dismissed Williamson’s allegations, stating that the charity had been subjected to a groundless misinformation campaign, which had led to threats directed at its staff and board members.
Helen Earner, the director of regulatory services at the Charity Commission, remarked, “The concerns raised regarding the charity’s activities were driven by online misinformation, which is becoming increasingly prevalent and is a significant concern for us as regulators.” She added that after reviewing the evidence, the commission found the claims to be inaccurate and confirmed that the sanctuary program aligns with the charity’s objectives and adheres to guidelines regarding political engagement.
Williamson’s accusations, highlighted in the Telegraph, were part of a broader trend of “culture war” complaints from certain Conservative backbenchers alleging charities have breached political campaigning regulations and promoted “woke” ideologies. Previous organizations targeted included the National Trust, Barnardo’s, and the Runnymede Trust, all of which underwent compliance reviews by the commission that ultimately cleared them of wrongdoing.
City of Sanctuary provides educational resources to schools aimed at fostering a welcoming atmosphere for refugee and asylum-seeking children while promoting compassion and understanding among students regarding migrant experiences. One of the initiatives involved students creating anonymous cards to express support and solidarity, featuring messages like “welcome to our town” and “we hope you feel safe here.”
The charity experienced backlash online, with social media posts misrepresenting that the cards contained Valentine’s messages, echoing a narrative that portrays male asylum seekers as potential perpetrators of sexual misconduct against minors.
The commission found that while “heart-shaped general messages of welcome to refugees were displayed in schools,” it confirmed that “at no point did children write cards to individual adult asylum seekers or refugees.”
A representative from City of Sanctuary UK expressed gratitude for the commission’s recognition of the impact the misinformation campaign had on their team and their partner schools. They noted, “We understand we are not alone in this; several other organizations in our sector have encountered similar challenges.”
