London Charity Under Fire for Grants Amid Bridge Repair Crisis

A London-based charity, established centuries ago to maintain the city's historic bridges, is facing scrutiny over its grant-making decisions. Critics argue that the City Bridge Foundation, which manages an endowment of approximately £1.5 billion, is diverting funds from its core mission of bridge maintenance to support social justice causes and groups with controversial associations.

The foundation's primary responsibility is the upkeep of five non-rail bridges over the River Thames, including Tower Bridge. However, a new policy document, "Standing With Londoners," reportedly emphasizes its role as a "social-justice funder" with a focus on "Equity, Diversity and Inclusion and Climate Action." The word "Thames" appears only once in the document, leading some to question the charity's priorities.

This shift in focus comes as several of London's bridges are in a state of disrepair. Hammersmith Bridge has been closed to traffic for six years, while others like Albert and Waterloo bridges have also faced closures or are in need of urgent work. Critics contend that the foundation's substantial funds could be used to address these infrastructure issues, rather than funding external organizations.

One significant point of contention is a grant of over £1.1 million awarded to the Muslim Charities Forum. This organization's treasurer is the chief executive of Al-Khair, a foundation that faces allegations of having connections to Hamas. The Charity Commission has launched an inquiry into Al-Khair following the arrest of an associate in the UK on charges of providing material support to Hamas. While the City Bridge Foundation stated its grant was for the Muslim Charities Forum's work in London and that all applications undergo robust checks, the association has drawn sharp criticism.

Further concerns have been raised about large grants to groups like Spectra CIC, which received £1 million to support the trans and sex-worker sector, and Race On The Agenda, which received £1.5 million to combat racial injustice. The Esme Fairbairn Foundation also received £5 million from the City Bridge Foundation, despite reportedly having significant funds of its own and a history of supporting various causes, including pro-immigration groups and media advocacy organizations.

Conservative MP Chris Philp accused the foundation of "woke nonsense" and suggested a "clean sweep of the board" to return the charity to its original purpose of improving London's infrastructure. He argued that the foundation should "spend less time and money on divisive campaigning and more time building bridges."

Urban analysts, such as Ike Ijeh, head of housing, architecture, and urban space at Policy Exchange, echoed these sentiments, stating that the foundation's revenues should be used for the "strategic benefit of the majority of Londoners" rather than supporting what he termed the "social justice identity complex."

In response, a spokesperson for the City Bridge Foundation affirmed that their primary responsibility is the maintenance of their five bridges at no cost to the taxpayer. They stated that only funds not required for bridge maintenance are available for charitable work supporting Londoners. Regarding the grant to the Muslim Charities Forum, the spokesperson reiterated that the grant was for the forum's work in London and that robust checks are conducted. They also noted that London's other bridges are the responsibility of different organizations.

Despite these statements, pressure for the foundation to re-evaluate its grant-making priorities and contribute to the repair of other vital London crossings is expected to continue. The debate highlights a broader discussion about the allocation of charitable funds and the balance between traditional responsibilities and contemporary social causes.