The Charity Commission, the independent regulator for charities in England and Wales, has confirmed it is assessing concerns raised about the charitable spending of The Anti-Slavery Collective. The organisation, co-founded by Princess Eugenie and Julia de Boinville, states its mission is to bring together policy-makers, academics, journalists, artists, and survivors to eradicate modern slavery.
A spokesperson for the Charity Commission stated, "We can confirm that we are assessing concerns that have been raised about The Anti-Slavery Collective. We cannot comment further whilst this assessment is ongoing." This process typically involves reviewing information provided by the public or other sources to determine if there are any regulatory issues that warrant further investigation.
The Anti-Slavery Collective was established in 2017 with the aim of raising awareness and advocating for an end to modern slavery. Its activities include hosting events, producing educational content, and collaborating with anti-slavery organisations globally. The charity's most recent accounts, for the financial year ending 31 December 2022, show an income of just over £260,000 and expenditure of approximately £210,000.
This is not the first instance of the charity's financial operations drawing public attention. Previous reports have highlighted the proportion of its income spent on administrative costs versus direct charitable activities. While charities are permitted to incur administrative expenses, regulators often monitor these figures to ensure they remain reasonable and do not detract significantly from the organisation's charitable purpose.
The current assessment by the Charity Commission will seek to determine if The Anti-Slavery Collective is operating in line with its charitable objects and regulatory requirements. Depending on the outcome of this initial review, the Commission could decide to take no further action, offer regulatory advice, or open a statutory inquiry if serious concerns about governance or financial management are identified.