Marketing executive Sarah Sadler sued charity Arthouse Unlimited after it refused her request for three days’ annual leave to attend the 2000 Trees rock festival. She argued that attending the festival expressed protected philosophical beliefs in community, inclusion, authenticity and human flourishing, but an employment tribunal dismissed the claim, ruling that her position was closer to a lifestyle choice than a belief protected by equality law.

Sadler, 49, worked for the disability-support charity from June 2023 until her dismissal in June 2024. The charity said it could not find cover because it was a small team and she had already booked several lengthy periods of leave. The tribunal also rejected her separate disability-discrimination claims concerning her treatment after emergency gallbladder surgery, despite her history of bowel cancer, chemotherapy and PTSD.