Family of Captain Sir Tom Moore face formal inquiry into charity setup

[dutchman]

Charity Commission to investigate concerns family personally profited from charity set up in veteran’s name



Watchdogs have launched a formal investigation into concerns that the family of NHS fundraiser Captain Sir Tom Moore personally profited from the charity set up in his name.

The Charity Commission began a series of discussions with the foundation amid concerns about the way it was governed earlier this year but has now escalated this into a full inquiry after fresh evidence emerged of potentially serous misconduct.

The inquiry will examine concerns that a private company controlled by Captain Tom’s daughter, Hannah Ingram-Moore, and her husband, Colin, potentially profited by trademarking the “Captain Tom” brand without objection from the foundation.

It will also look into allegations of mismanagement in the administration of the foundation, and whether it had complied with charity law, as well as its handling of potential conflicts of interest with companies connected to the Ingram-Moore family.

The commission revealed that it had stepped in last year to prevent Hannah Ingram-Moore, a trustee of the charity, from being appointed as its chief executive on a six-figure salary.

Helen Stephenson, the chief executive of the Charity Commission, said: “The late Captain Sir Tom Moore inspired the nation with his courage, tenacity and concern for others. It is vital that public trust in charity is protected, and that people continue to feel confident in supporting good causes.

“We do not take any decision to open an inquiry lightly, but in this case our concerns have mounted. We consider it in the public interest to examine them through a formal investigation, which gives us access to the full range of our protective and enforcement powers.”

The Ingram-Moores were trustees of the foundation when it was set up in June 2020. Hannah resigned as a trustee in March 2021 but her husband, Colin, remains a trustee. They are directors of a private company, Club Nook Ltd, which has trademarked the “Captain Tom” name. In its reply to the Charity Commission’s announcement, the pair said the company had trademarked the name in April 2020 – before the Captain Tom Foundation was formed.

The commission said it has exonerated the foundation over allegations earlier this year relating to consultancy fees and payments to companies owned by the Ingram-Moores in setting up the foundation, saying these were “reasonable reimbursement” which had been managed with due regard for potential conflicts of interest.

It said had stepped in to prevent the foundation appointing Hannah Ingram-Moore as its chief executive on a £100,000-a-year salary in July 2021, as this was “neither reasonable not justifiable”. It had also questioned an earlier attempt to appoint her on a £60,000, three-day-a-week role.

In August 2021, a month after the commission blocked her appointment, Hannah Ingram-Moore became chief executive of the foundation on a nine-month contract worth £85,000 a year. After this contract expired a new chief executive, Jack Gilbert, an experienced charity sector manager, was appointed.

[dutchman]

It's no different from any other so-called 'charity'.

[rebbonk]

Sadly, Dutchman you are right.

I have former family that have been doing something similar for years. It rather goes against the grain.