"There is no evidence that Common Purpose is a secret
organisation…in fact, the evidence appears to us to show an
organisation very much in the public arena with a strong marketing
and publicity presence."
The Information Tribunal
"We are aware of internet comments that have been
made about the charity concerning alleged 'hidden' aims and
objectives and suggesting that the charity may be pursuing a
pro-European agenda. However, we have not received any evidence to
suggest that Common Purpose is engaged in any activities that would
require regulatory action from the Commission or lead us to
question its charitable status."
The Charity Commission
In the past, Common Purpose and its founder and CEO Julia
Middleton, have been the subject of conspiracy theories and
negative commentary regarding their integrity. They have been
accused of everything from running Britain and Europe - and more
recently the US - to being a secret brainwashing society. They have
also been portrayed as criminals, child abusers, embezzlers of
government funds and being spies.
We have refrained from taking legal action to date because
Common Purpose staff, course participants, customers and supporters
have tolerated these assertions in the spirit of freedom of speech
and it not being the best use of charity funds. But freedom of
speech does not bring with it a license to distribute complete
untruths on the internet without challenge. Our lawyers have
written to the authors of these remarks to make it clear that we
will no longer allow such allegations to go unchallenged.
Common Purpose is an independent, well respected, not for profit
organisation that has been registered with the Charity Commission
since 1993. The Commission, which regularly reviews the charities
which it regulates, has never raised any concerns about our work or
about our charitable status. You can read a Charity Commission
statement to this effect on our international website.
Time and again, reputable bodies and organisations dismiss these
ludicrous allegations.
A ruling made by the Information Tribunal in the UK states that
"there is no evidence that Common Purpose is a secret
organisation…in fact, the evidence appears to us to show an
organisation very much in the public arena with a strong marketing
and publicity presence."
I am proud to be a Common Purpose Trustee and very proud of what
Julia has achieved, and of what we do. As our website makes clear
Julia has been committed for over 21 years to a very simple
proposition: that communities will work better if the leaders of
them - in the private sector, the public sector and the not for
profit sector - work together to identify opportunities to improve
things for the public good. Our courses are outlined on our website
for all to see. The testimonials we have received from clients from
all walks of life demonstrate the value and success of our
leadership courses. This is what Common Purpose is all about and
it's what we continue to do - as we have done since 1989.
