Conservative politicians have called on Clarion Housing Group, Britain's largest social housing provider, to cease its support for the charity Care4Calais. The criticism stems from Clarion providing rent-free commercial space to Care4Calais at a shopping center it owns in Merton, south London. Care4Calais distributes free goods and services to migrants, including those who have arrived in the UK without authorization.
Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp urged Clarion to sever its ties with the charity, stating that Care4Calais undermines the UK border by encouraging illegal immigration. He noted that Clarion is a significant provider of social housing to refugees, who may include individuals who arrived via small boats and have had their asylum claims accepted. Philp suggested that this arrangement creates a cycle where migrants are granted asylum and then housed in social housing, some of which is provided by Clarion.
Clarion Housing Group confirmed its support for Care4Calais, emphasizing its role in aiding vulnerable individuals. The organization stated it was "deeply concerned by any inference that we are profiteering from the asylum system." Clarion, which operates on a not-for-profit basis, provides social housing in over 170 local council areas across England. In the 2023-24 period, approximately 2% of its social housing stock, equating to around 4,100 households, was allocated to refugees.
Rob Bates, Director of the Centre for Migration Control, commented that supporting Care4Calais "directly bolsters the financial interests of Clarion," as migrants granted refugee status often seek social housing. Clarion denied these claims, describing the reporting as "toxic" and divisive.
Care4Calais, a volunteer-run charity, has faced scrutiny in the past. A Charity Commission investigation identified "administrative misconduct" during the tenure of its former founder, Clare Moseley, citing issues with financial controls, governance, and record-keeping. Moseley also admitted to illegally carrying pepper spray in Belgium for self-defense purposes.
The charity's activities include distributing items such as SIM cards, food packs, clothing, and offering services like English language support and haircuts to asylum seekers. For the 2024-25 financial year, Care4Calais reported distributing 162,334 items, including 2,500 SIM cards in partnership with Vodafone. It also provided 1,173 Ramadan food packs and thousands of clothing items. The charity conducted numerous handout sessions at British military bases housing asylum seekers.
The distribution of SIM cards by Care4Calais, with support from Vodafone, has drawn criticism from Reform UK's Zia Yusuf, who threatened legal action against the mobile network operator. Vodafone stated that it provides SIM cards only to regulated charities and that usage is restricted to the UK.
The controversy comes amid a continued rise in small boat crossings, with 82 migrants arriving over a recent weekend and a record 230 arriving in a single dinghy days earlier. More than 3,000 individuals have made the crossing since the start of the year.