Lighthouse, also known as Lighthouse International Group, was a British business and coaching organisation, founded in 2012 by Paul Waugh, that has been reported by numerous experts to be a cult.[1][2]
Lighthouse International Group's business operations were wound up in the UK High Court following intervention by the Secretary of State on 28 March 2023.[3] Section 124A of the Insolvency Act 1986 permits the Secretary of State, where he believes it is expedient in the public interest that a company should be wound up, to present a petition for it to be wound up if the court thinks it just and equitable for it to be so.[4]
The chief investigator at the Insolvency Service stated this was on the grounds of lack of cooperation with authorities and Waugh's deliberate obstruction. The Insolvency Service released a statement naming Waugh, Christopher Nash, Shaun Cooper and Warren Vaughan as the members of the Limited liability partnership that was wound up.[5]
The group was the subject of a BBC Three documentary first broadcast in April 2023, titled A Very British Cult,[6] as well as a BBC podcast of the same name.[7] The documentary reported that member Tom Hasker would loiter outside the bedroom of a member charged with harassing ex-members on social-media, leading to their increased anxiety such that they had to flee and seek assistance from the Police.[8]
It was reported that Lighthouse now trades as "Lighthouse Global".[9]
Companies House states the Lighthouse Holding company is in the process of being liquidated as of March 2024.[10]