November 21st 2024.
In an effort to support the charitable efforts of the record-breaking fundraiser, a limited edition 'Captain Tom gin' was released for sale at a price of £100 per bottle. The proceeds from this unique gin were promised to be donated to the Captain Tom Foundation, although there was no written contract in place at the time. However, a recent report has found that only a small donation of £530 was made to the charity from the sale of 21 bottles by Otterbeck Distillery.
The Charity Commission, who conducted the investigation, discovered that there was no written agreement between Captain Tom's family and the distillery. This was despite an advertisement on the distillery's website stating that 'all profits' from the sale of the gin would go to the foundation. Interestingly, a regular 'Captain Tom' gin, also made by the company and priced at £35.95, did have a written agreement in place, with £1 being donated to the charity for each bottle sold. This resulted in a much larger donation of £8,960.
The report by the Charity Commission also delved into the connection between Captain Tom's family and the Captain Tom Foundation. It revealed that the family had benefitted personally from the 'blurring' of their personal and business interests. The inquiry found that the unconflicted trustees of the foundation were not aware of the limited edition gin until a few days before a news article was published about the potential legal breach. Once they were made aware, they instructed Captain Tom's son-in-law, who was in charge of the foundation, to remove the gin from the charity's online store.
Hannah Ingram-Moore, Captain Tom's daughter, has spoken out about the online harassment she and her family have faced in relation to their charitable and business endeavors. The report concluded that there had been mismanagement and a breach of the Charities Act 1992. It noted that the then-trustees should have been consulted before the limited edition gin deal was made to ensure it was in the best interests of the charity. The distillery's website did not initially provide information about the amount that would be donated to the charity, but this was later corrected.
In August 2020, the distillery posted an advert on Facebook stating their partnership with Captain Tom in producing the gin and their honor in supporting the Captain Tom Foundation. On the official Captain Tom Instagram page, his family also mentioned their collaboration with the distillery to fundraise and continue Captain Tom's legacy. However, neither post disclosed the portion of each sale that would go to the charity.
The Charity Commission's report also uncovered a pattern of 'mismanagement' by Captain Tom's family, including a £1.4 million advance on his autobiography and an £18,000 appearance fee for his daughter at an awards ceremony. The family has denied taking any money from public donations and has expressed their disappointment with the report, calling it 'unjust and excessive'. They also claim to have been treated unfairly by the two-year investigation and believe the watchdog had a predetermined agenda.
The Captain Tom Foundation was established to carry on the spirit of generosity shown by the late Second World War veteran, who raised £38.9 million for NHS Charities Together by walking 100 laps of his garden for his 100th birthday during the height of the Covid lockdown in 2020. However, the family was disqualified from their positions as charity trustees by the regulator in July. When the breach came to light, the family and the distillery released a statement clarifying that the profits from the limited edition gin would be shared with the charity. They also mentioned that the distillery had agreed to give their time and expertise to create the gin after Captain Tom expressed an interest in having a gin named after him.
In conclusion, the report has shed light on the unclear links between Captain Tom's family and the foundation, as well as the mismanagement of funds. The family has denied any wrongdoing and has expressed their frustration with the investigation. The distillery has yet to comment on the report. If you have a story to share, please contact josh.email.
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