A charity honouring Captain Sir Tom Moore has seen its income plummet by over £1million over the course of three years.
The Captain Tom Foundation was set up by his family following the death of the veteran, who walked up and down his garden to raise money for the NHS during the pandemic. It was established to support “causes close to Captain Sir Tom’s heart”.
Three years ago following its establishment, the charity had a whopping £1.1million in income.
However, in 2023, the foundation’s spending dropped by more than half over the same period to £158,840, a newly released annual return has revealed.
The Captain Tom Foundation has had its income plummet by over £1milliongbnewsMoore shot to national fame when he raised almost £33million for NHS charities during the first wave of the coronavirus pandemic by walking laps of his garden in the run-up to his 100th birthday.
He was later knighted by the Queen before he died from Covid-19 in February 2021.
Just a year after his death, the Charity Commission announced that it would be launching a review into the foundation amid concerns that his family were profiting from his name and taking money intended for charity.
It was revealed that thousands of pounds had been given to companies run by his daughter, Hannah Ingram-Moore, and her husband.
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Captain Sir Tom Moore raised £39million for charityPAIn October 2023, she admitted that she had kept £800,000 from the profits made from three books penned by her late father.
During an interview, Ingram-Moore said her father wanted the family to keep profits from his three books Captain Tom’s Life Lessons, One Hundred Steps and his autobiography Tomorrow Will Be A Good Day.
However, the prologue of his autobiography suggested that the proceeds from book sales would go to charity.
The family were embroiled in further controversy when they built a spa and pool facility at their £1.2million Bedfordshire mansion.
The development was proposed in the name of The Captain Tom Foundation and planning permission had initially been granted for a C-shaped building.
During the planning hearing, representatives for the family said the spa pool would offer “rehabilitation sessions for elderly people in the area”.
Captain Tom’s daughter admits pocketing £800k from books written by her fatherGetty Images
However, the plans were later turned down by Central Bedfordshire Council in November 2022, and orders to demolish the building were approved.
The couple have since been disqualified from being charity trustees by the Charity Commission.
A statement from the family said they would not appeal but they “fundamentally disagree with the conclusions reached by the Charity Commission”.
The said the investigation into them was a “harrowing and debilitating ordeal”, adding in a statement: “The profound emotional upheaval and financial burden make such a course of action [appealing] untenable.
“It is widely recognised that the funds raised in April 2020 were directed entirely to NHS Charities Together.
“Public donations were managed by JustGiving and transferred directly to NHS Charities Together, without any involvement from our family in the distribution process.”