‘Aggressive’ veterans’ group We R Blighty breach fundraising rules – what happens now?

Persistent ‘charity’ collectors have been out to ruin commuters’ days across London – but could the latest fundraising investigation help them meet their end?

A number of different organisations have popped up over the years, flagging you down to discuss anything from knife crime to homelessness with card reader in-hand.

They irritate and guilt-trip Londoners just trying to catch the train home, with some Londoners admit they have ‘lost their cool’ around them.

Pauline told Metro: ‘It’s now at the point where I feel anxious going to work because I know I’m going to be harassed by strange men on the street.

‘And I’m not the only person experiencing this.’

But more and more complaints are rolling in about a different ‘charity’ – We R Blighty – which isn’t actually a charity at all.

They are being investigated by both the police and the UK’s independent fundraising regulator, who confirmed today they have found major breaches into the Code of Fundraising Practice.

But why are they still going?

What is We R Blighty?

We R Blighty is a community interest company. They say they have never claimed to be a charity, despite ‘charity begins at home’ being their previous tagline.

They have been seen propping up tables and signs all over the city, ready to pounce on unfortunate souls who make the grave mistake of making eye contact.

We R claim they are being signposted by veterans charity the SSAFA, to support those genuinely needing help after leaving the Armed Forces.

First hand testimonials claim their lives were ‘changed’ for the better after being put in contact by the SSAFA – but the organisation confirmed to Metro there is no reference to any referrals to We R Blighty.

The group is run by veteran Ben Mills, who had previously set up another company called Target Fundraising Services in 2019, before resigning as director just three months later.

Mills also resigned as director of We R Blighty a few months after setting it up in September 2022.

In their first year of operation, they raised more than £90,000. It is unclear how much of this went towards veterans.

Metro has contacted We R Blighty for comment.

Are We R Blighty allowed to set up tables?

Organisations need express permission from the Metropolitan Police to be raising funds from street donations in London. But do We R Blighty have this? Of course not.

The force told Metro: ‘We have not issued any permits to ‘We R Blighty’ with regards any form of charity collection.

‘Any authorised charity collectors on London streets should be in possession of a licence issued by the Met’s Licencing and Charities Team.’

Transport for London and Network Rail have all said the same thing – they have not given the group permission to set up tables, despite many being pictured in and around stations.

Even supermarket chain Morrisons has banned the group from setting up inside their stores.

We R Blighty have insisted they are actually selling magazines, but Londoners have reported online they are only allowed to take a picture of it before a card reader is shoved in their face.

How are We R Blighty allowed to keep going?

The Fundraising Regulator announced the conclusion of their investigation today, saying they have found nine breaches of the code of practice, including aggressive behavior and misleading the public.

Problem is, We R Blighty don’t actually sign up to this.

The Fundraising Regulator said: ‘Given that we are a non-statutory regulator, we don’t have the power to impose any penalty.

‘If We R Blighty was signed up to the Code of Fundraising Practice (which they are not), the Fundraising Regulator could strip this status from them if they failed to comply with the recommendations in the investigation.’

The group has already been penalised for illegal fundraising and in June this year, they pleaded guilty to collecting money without the required licences.

But they have continued their operations in London, and now councils, police and the Fundraising Regulator are asking for updated laws as the maximum punishment is only a £200 fine.

Campaigners have said the Police and Factories Act of 1916 makes it difficult to tackle unlicensed street fundraising.

They said both Inside Success Union CIC and We R Blighty were prosecuted for unlicensed street collections, received fines, and were seen operating illegally the very next day.

How can Londoners help get rid of them?

But do not be deterred. Londoners have successfully campaigned to boot out the charity chuggers plaguing them before.

Pauline McFerran told Metro she was suffering from serious levels of harassment by one of the many knife crime chuggers outside of Farringdon station.

She said: ‘Every time I walk past the station one of them would follow me pretending I’ve dropped something, stand in front of me or harass me to remove my headphones to talk to them.

‘I tried everything to discourage them, not engaging, walking the other way, ignoring them but they will approach directly one after the other, despite seeing his colleague being ignored.

‘It got to the point I felt anxious about going to work because I knew I would be harrassed by strange men on the street.’

So she emailed Islington Council, who were refreshingly prompt in their response.

They told her they were starting work with the fundraising regulator, were handing out leaflets to make people aware and try to move the chuggers along.

And Pauline said it appeared to work – at least for a short period of time.

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

For more stories like this, check our news page.