Christian charity World Vision UK has hit back following allegations of an allegedly “toxic” workplace culture.
The allegations were initially reported by website Third Sector, a publication for the voluntary, charity, and non-profit sector, which said it had spoken to 11 current and former members of staff.
World Vision has evangelical origins, having been founded in 1950 by Bob Pierce, an American evangelical missionary connected to the Youth for Christ movement. It now has branches around the world. World Vision UK is a semi-independent national body focused on “helping the world’s most vulnerable children to overcome poverty and experience fullness of life”.
According to website Civil Society, which focuses on the charity sector, the complaints revolve around issues of sexism, racism, and tensions over LGBT matters.
Civil Society reported that part of the complaint “alleges that the charity’s equity, diversity and inclusion group were told that ‘anti-LGBT staff members need to be allowed to have space too’.” The complaint also alludes to a staff online chat in which it was stated World Vision is “moving in the wrong direction away from the Lord,” and that “it’s sad to see so many people being misled by the LGB…+ rainbow agenda”.
In a statement, World Vision UK said: “We dispute the allegations reported in the media about our work culture … The allegations are false and we are saddened by them as they don’t reflect the type of organisation we are and the principles we are proud of.
“Our talented and dedicated staff are hugely important to us. We provide various mechanisms for dealing with staff complaints and if these are upheld, we act immediately to put things right and take action following our policies which are robust and fair.”
A Charity Commission spokesperson said: “We have opened a regulatory compliance case to assess concerns raised about World Vision UK and determine any next steps.” However, it has not opened a statutory inquiry nor made any findings known at this time.
