Landmark overturning of Charity Commission trustee disqualification
Having followed the news on Naomi Campbell's appeal against her charity trustee ban, it's interesting to see that the Charity Tribunal has, for the first time, quashed a Charity Commission for England and Wales trustee disqualification order this month.
This particular case (Mond v The Charity Commission for England and Wales [2025]) related to the trustee's conduct on social media – a limited number of anti-Islamic posts and likes over a four year period. The trustee was disqualified for two and a half years. He behaved responsibly, resigning from his trusteeships and apologising. He subsequently appealed his disqualification.
Key takeaways:
- A small number of discriminatory social media posts and likes across a number of years are relevant to a person’s fitness to be a charity trustee.
- Restrictions on freedom of expression must be proportionate. The rules must not set the bar too high and deter future trustees with diverse experience and views.
- While this does not give a carte blanche to trustees to be as offensive as they wish, this does signal a more nuanced approach to disqualification.
If you have any questions, get in touch with Sarah Williams.
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