Thank you for your e-mailed letter dated 22nd September 2009 with regard to the above.
I note your comments in relation to a reported link between the organisation and members of the British National Party (BNP) and have also considered the content of the website (www.soldiersoffthestreet.com).
As far the Charity Commission is concerned, the organisation is not doing anything wrong in stating its aspirations to be registered as a charity once an annual income of at least £5,000 is being received. In fact, if an organisation has charitable objects and has an income of greater than £5,000 per annum it is actually legally required to register as a charity with us. However, it should be pointed out that charity’s with an income below this threshold are also subject to charity law.
Having checked our records I can confirm that no application to register Soldiers off the Street as a charity has yet been received by us.
There is nothing in charity legislation (or elsewhere) that prohibits members of the BNP or any other political party from establishing and/or being the trustees of charitable organisations, so I cannot provide you with any further information on this particular issue.
However, I should make it clear that substantial evidence would need to be provided to us in order to prove a charitable organisation has been established for any other purpose than furthering its objects (i.e. furthering the aims of a particular political party).
I hope the above proves to be of some assistance.
Tags: Soldiers off Street
