A trust to provide dwellings for the working classes was refused charitable status in Re Sanders’ Will Trusts [1954]

In the case of Re Sanders’ Will Trusts [1954], the court refused to grant charitable status to a trust intended to provide dwellings for the working classes. This case highlights the criteria necessary for a purpose to be considered charitable under the law.

To qualify for charitable status, a purpose must fall within the definitions provided by statute and legal precedent. The main grounds for refusal in this case were:

1. Public Benefit Requirement: Charitable trusts must demonstrate that they provide a benefit to the public or a section of it. The court determined that the provision of housing for specific groups, like the working classes, did not satisfy the public benefit test as broadly as required.

2. Non-Charity Under the Charitable Uses Act 1601: The trust's purpose was not recognized as charitable under the definitions established in the Charitable Uses Act, which requires that charitable purposes must align with the relief of poverty, advancement of education, or advancement of religion.

3. Degree of Public Benefit: The court found that the trust's aims were more about personal advantage to a particular group rather than the public good, further complicating its claim to charitable status.

Thus, Re Sanders’ case serves as a pivotal example of the stringent requirements for trusts seeking charitable status, reflecting both legal definitions and societal benefit considerations.