Stephen Jones

An inquiry has been launched into The Charity Set Up in honour of fundraiser and Army veteran Capt Sir Tom Moore .

The Charity Commission has concerns about The Captain Tom Foundation's management and family independence related to trademark issues.

The Veteran , who died Last Year aged 100, raised millions for NHS Charities Together by walking laps of his garden. This money is not part of The Inquiry .

The Foundation said it would " work closely with The Commission ".

Capt Sir Tom, who was born in Keighley in West Yorkshire , gained international fame when he carried out the fundraising walk at his home in Marston Moretaine, Bedfordshire, when Covid restrictions were first introduced in 2020.

The £33m raised, £38. 9m including gift aid, was managed and distributed by NHS Charities Together before the JustGiving account was closed down.

After he became a well-known figure, His Family Set Up a separate charity in his name called The Captain Tom Foundation, which aims to support and " empower" older people through fundraising and awareness campaigns.

The Money raised by Capt Sir Tom was separate from the formation of The Charity and is not part of The Investigation .

In March 2022, the publication of The First annual accounts of The Foundation showed it had incurred £240,000 in costs and given £160,000 to good causes.

The Commission said it became concerned about arrangements between The Charity and a company linked to Sir Tom's daughter, Hannah Ingram-Moore, and her husband Colin, as well as the trustees' decision-making and how The Charity was governed.

The issues revolve around a " failure to consider intellectual property and trademark issues" including the trademarking of variations of the name " Captain Tom" by a company controlled by Ms Ingram-Moore and Mr Ingram-Moore.

This could have generated " significant profit" for The Company , The Commission added.

Helen Stephenson, chief executive of The Charity Commission, said the watchdog's " concerns have mounted" over The Charity .

" 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, " She Said .

Earlier this year, The Commission but said it was later " satisfied" that these specific payments were a reasonable reimbursement for expenses incurred by the companies in the formation of The Charity .

It added it was also satisfied that the payments were " adequately identified and managed".

Stephen Jones , chairman of the board of trustees of The Captain Tom Foundation, said: " We will of course work closely with The Commission in its inquiry. "

He Said The Commission was aware of where The Image and intellectual property rights were held when The Charity was Set Up .

Jack Gilbert , who became chief executive of The Charity at The Beginning of the month, said he would " ensure that in all respects, including governance and finance, The Foundation conforms to best practice".

A statement from the Ingram-Moore family said The Company controlled by Ms Ingram-Moore and Mr Ingram-Moore " made its application for various trademarks in April 2020 prior to the formation of The Captain Tom Foundation" which was in May 2020.

" Neither Hannah nor Colin Ingram-Moore were trustee directors of The Captain Tom Foundation upon its formation, " The Statement added.

Source of news: bbc.com