The Captain Tom Foundation, established to honour the late war veteran Captain Sir Tom Moore, has announced that it will no longer accept donations while an investigation into the charity is underway. In a statement, the foundation revealed that it has also closed all payment channels during the ongoing probe.
The decision comes in light of a statutory inquiry conducted by the Charity Commission, which is examining concerns regarding the charity’s management and its independence from the family of the late veteran. Captain Sir Tom Moore, who captured the nation’s hearts, raised an astounding £39 million for NHS Charities Together by completing 100 laps of his garden in April 2020. His tireless efforts earned him a knighthood from Queen Elizabeth II. The beloved veteran passed away in February 2021.
The recent announcement from the foundation follows an unrelated incident involving planning permission for an unauthorized building at the home of Captain Tom’s daughter, Hannah Ingram-Moore. The structure, known as the Captain Tom Foundation Building, was intended to be constructed on the grounds of their residence in Marston Moretaine, Bedfordshire. However, local planning authorities rejected the proposal for a block containing a spa pool, leading to an enforcement notice ordering the demolition of the unapproved structure. The matter is currently under appeal.
A spokesperson for The Captain Tom Foundation emphasised that their primary focus at this time is to fully cooperate with the ongoing statutory inquiry conducted by the Charity Commission. Consequently, the foundation has decided not to actively seek any funding from donors and has temporarily closed all payment channels. The charity stated that it will assess its future course of action once the findings of the inquiry have been received.
The Charity Commission began its investigation into the Captain Tom Foundation in March 2021, expanding it into a statutory inquiry in June of the same year, following the veteran’s passing. The commission has refrained from commenting on the matter while the inquiry is ongoing.
The outcome of the investigation will shed light on the concerns raised about the management and operations of the Captain Tom Foundation, as well as its relationship with the family of the late Captain Sir Tom Moore.
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