Captain Tom Moore Fund Facts Charity Investigation: Founding in Crisis While Watchdog Prepares to Investigate Decisions That Could ‘Make a Profit’ for a Family-Running Company
- Captain Sir Tom Moore raised £ 38 million during the first Covid restraint in April
- He died next February just before his 101st birthday to Covid
- The Charity Commission’s inquiry focuses on intellectual property issues
- His family said they welcomed the Charity Commission’s announcement
The Captain Tom Foundation was in crisis last night after the Charity Commission revealed that it was conducting a statutory investigation.
It examines decisions that ‘may have generated significant profits’ for a company run by the war veteran’s family.
The commission opened a case last year, but escalated it due to ‘newly identified concerns’.
Captain Sir Tom Moore made headlines by raising £ 38 million worth of careers from his garden during the first Covid containment in April 2020
Captain Sir Tom Moore raised £ 38 million by walking circles around his Bedfordshire garden to celebrate his 100th birthday during the first Covid containment in April 2020.
This money was donated to NHS Charities Together and does not fall within the scope of the investigation. The foundation was established in May 2020 to continue its legacy. Captain Tom died with Covid the following February.
The Charity Commission’s main focus will be on intellectual property and trademark issues. As well as donations, the foundation generates revenue through branded goods including T-shirts and gin.
Captain Sir Tom Moore pictured in November 2020 with his own branded gin
The brand on the bottle depicts the iconic image of Captain Tom using his walking frame to raise millions for the NHS
It will examine the trustees’ decision – making and the charity’s management, including the management of conflicting interests. Captain Tom’s daughter, Hannah Ingram-Moore, is a former trustee and her husband, Colin, remains on the board.
The couple founded a company, Club Nook Ltd. The commission said it had been given the opportunity to brand variations of the Captain Tom name, which “may have generated significant profits”.
The commission revealed yesterday that it had looked into the charity’s request for a mother of two. Hiring Ingram-Moore at a salary of £ 60,000 for three days a week, later changing to £ 100,000 on a full-time basis. It refused, saying the sum was ‘not reasonable or justifiable’.
A Captain Tom skirt available on Redbubble
Another Captain Tom product available on Redbubble – a pillow with its parable and a Union Jack
Supported by a zimmer frame, the World War II veteran (pictured) posed a challenge to walk 100 lengths of his garden at his home in Bedfordshire
The amazing fundraising effort propelled Sir Captain Tom to superstar. He received a special BBC Sports Personality of the Year award and achieved a British number one with a cover of You’ll Never Walk Alone – making him the oldest person to record a British number one. The awards did not stop there. He was appointed an honorary colonel and was later knighted by the queen (photo in 2020) at Windsor Castle.
Mrs Ingram-Moore was allowed to act as interim CEO at £ 85,000 a year for up to nine months. A new CEO, Jack Gilbert – who has 20 years of experience in the volunteer sector – took over this month.
Stephen Jones, chairman of the foundation’s board of trustees, said the commission was made aware during the registration process that ‘image rights and intellectual property rights of the name are kept within a private family trust’. He added: “We will work closely with the commission.”
The family said they welcomed the Charity Commission’s announcement. They said that Club Nook Ltd had applied for trademarks prior to its inception and that Mr and Mrs Ingram-Moore were trustee directors of the charity at the time of its inception.