A company which claims to raise funds for homeless veterans has been spotted still in operation across London after being fined for not having the required licences.
We Are Blighty has collected tens of thousands of pounds from members of the public across busy streets including Oxford Street, Tower Hill and Waterloo since it was founded in September 2022.
But the group, which is a community interest company (CIC), were brought before the City of London Magistrates’ Court last month after a probe by the Fundraising Regulator over breaches of the Code of Fundraising Practice.
Despite repeated written and in-person warnings from the City of London Corporation’s Licensing Team, they continued to operate – soliciting donations and unlawful street trading between August 2024 and February 2025.
We Are Blighty only donates 50 per cent of the money it collects from people on the street to veterans’ support, with the rest going in the operator’s pockets, the court heard.
On June 4, the Community Interest Company (CIC) pleaded guilty to 14 offences of collecting money and street trading in London without licences.
The company and its directors, Ben Mills and Danielle Vidler, were fined a total of £1,792 and ordered to pay £1,700 in costs to the City Corporation.
Chairman of the City of London Corporation’s licensing committee, John Fletcher, said: ‘This prosecution sends a clear message: illegal street trading and unauthorised fundraising will not be tolerated in the City.
We Are Blighty, a company which claims to raise funds for homeless veterans, has been spotted still in operation across London after being fined for not having the required licences
It was brought before the City of London Magistrates’ Court last month after a probe by the Fundraising Regulator over breaches of the Code of Fundraising Practice
We Are Blighty only donates 50 per cent of the money it collects from people on the street to veterans’ support, with the rest going in the operator’s pockets, the court heard
‘The persistent unlawful nature of We R Blighty’s money collection and sale of articles for private gain without the pre-requisite authorisations is totally unacceptable.
‘Our enforcement protects the integrity of charitable fundraising and the public, as well as organisations that comply with the law.
‘I thank our licensing team and our specialist legal team at Guildhall, and the City of London Police, for their advice, guidance, and fair and professional handling of this matter.’
In a separate investigation towards the end of last year, Kent Police said they were looking into ‘reports of financial irregularities’ relating to the company. MailOnline has contacted the force for an update on their findings.
Multiple images posted online since their court appearance last month show We Are Blighty workers stationed at various locations across the capital.
One shows a man wearing the company’s uniform and positioned next to a donation stand outside Highbury and Islington tube station in north London as he speaks to a police officer.
Others show similar set ups with other employees asking for donations from people walking past.
It is currently unknown whether or not they now have the correct licences. MailOnline has contacted the regulator regarding this.
On June 4, the Community Interest Company (CIC) pleaded guilty to 14 offences of collecting money and street trading in London without licences
Multiple images posted online since their court appearance last month show We Are Blighty workers stationed at various locations across the capital
It is currently unknown whether or not they now have the correct licences. MailOnline has contacted the regulator regarding this
The group has posts on its social media showing its members providing homeless veterans with aid including temporary housing in hotels, food, and blankets.
We R Blighty is not registered with the Fundraising Regulator – not a legal requirement – but this does not stop the regulating body from launching an investigation if it feels there is potential for ‘significant harm to be caused’.
According to the fundraising code, anyone collecting money on the street for a charitable purpose, whether a charity or a CIC, is required to apply for licensing from the relevant authority, usually the local council or police force.
Founder and head of operations at We R Blighty, Mr Mills, is a veteran who set up the company after years of fundraising for armed forces charities.
It raised around £92,000 from donations in its first year alone.
Last year when MailOnline revealed his company was being probed, he insisted they had not breached the fundraising code, stating that because We R Blighty is a registered company, they are able to fundraise without a licence.
Speaking to MailOnline at the time, he said: ‘We used to be able to get an exemption rule because we’re a CIC.
‘The charity collections page on the government website states there is an exemption if you are collecting on behalf of a business.
According to the fundraising code, anyone collecting money on the street for a charitable purpose, whether a charity or a CIC, is required to apply for licensing from the relevant authority
It raised around £92,000 from donations in its first year alone
‘We didn’t need a permit, we couldn’t get a permit.
‘Now they’ve added the Police Factories Act to the government website, but even that doesn’t make sense.
‘It states on there that if you’re collecting any money for a ‘charitable purpose’ you need a permit.
‘I’m not classed as a charity, and if I went around saying I was a charity I’d be absolutely crucified.
‘So therefore, they can’t put me in the category of being for a “charitable purpose” either because that would mean I would need to be of a charitable status.
‘We R Blighty is still operating and assisting veterans regardless of any investigations that may or may not be taking place for whatever reasons.’
At the time, the group also said they were covered by the ‘Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982 by exposing newspapers and periodicals in public places’, as they distribute armed forces magazines while accepting one-off donations from the public.
A CIC is not a registered charity, but is a ‘special type of limited company which exists to benefit the community rather than private shareholders’, according to the government website.
A We R Blighty fundraiser pictured last year. When MailOnline revealed his company was being probed in 2024, founder Ben Mills insisted they had not breached the fundraising code
Fundraisers pictured posing with police officers last year
Last year, the group also said they were covered by the ‘Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982 by exposing newspapers and periodicals in public places’
Fundraisers pictured last year. Mr Mills previously said: ‘We R Blighty is still operating and assisting veterans regardless of any investigations that may or may not be taking place for whatever reasons’
CICs have for long been a ‘tricky area’ for regulators, as they have a more ‘light touch approach’ and are subject to less stringent regulations than charities, yet there is concern the public are often not aware of the differences between the two when donating.
The laws around street collections date back to 1916 and so campaigners are working to review and update legislation to make it more robust.
It is also often unclear with CICs how much of each donation goes towards the cause, and how much is kept as commission by staff.
MailOnline has contacted We R Blighty for comment.
