An Oxford college run by the former head of the equalities watchdog has apologised to students for hosting Christian conference, The Telegraph can reveal.

In what has been described as the latest incident of “cancel culture” at British Universities, Worcester College acknowledged the “distress” that it had caused students by hosting a Christian Concern training camp, and vowed to use the profits for “diversity initiatives”. 

The move comes just months after David Isaac took over as the Provost of the college from his role as chair of the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC).

He was previously chair of LGBT charity Stonewall.

During his time at the helm of the EHRC, it released guidelines for universities and student unions in order to protect freedom of expression amid growing criticism of no-platforming decisions.

Mr Isaac also wrote a blog, Freedom of Speech in Education, in which he set out “core principles”, including “that decisions about speakers and events should seek to promote and protect the right to freedom of expression”. 

It is understood that he personally ordered an investigation into the conference after receiving a complaint from the president of a student union.

Christian Concern

Christian Concern held its annual week-long Wilberforce Academy at the beginning of September, whilst Worcester College was closed for the summer break.

The evangelical campaign group says that more than 100 young people were “very warmly welcomed, including by the Provost, received many compliments from the staff, and were not aware of any complaints or concerns”.

Christian Concern has previously been accused of transphobia, its members have protested outside abortion clinics and its founder has advocated the criminalisation of homosexuality.

The ‘nature of Islam’

Students are understood to have complained that the curriculum for the residential camp was Islamophobic as it included a discussion on the “nature of Islam” and that speakers were pro-conversion therapy.

In response to the criticism, Worcester College told students that they “deeply regret the distress caused” and were “not aware of the speaker list or programme content in advance”. 

They have promised to carry out an “urgent review” of their booking process.

Profits put towards ‘equality, diversity, and inclusivity initiatives’

After discussion with student groups they said that they would use the profits from hosting the Wilberforce Academy to fund “dedicated equality, diversity, and inclusivity initiatives”.

“We acknowledge that this was a serious failure that has caused significant distress, and we apologise unreservedly to all those who have been affected,” the spokesman added in a statement to student newspaper The Tab on Tuesday. 

The Wilberforce Academy has been held at Oxbridge Colleges for the past 11 years. It is not the first time that it has caused controversy and in 2013 Trinity College also apologised for hosting the camp.