Captain Tom Moore's daughter and son-in-law banned from being charity trustees
The couple have been disqualified amid an ongoing inquiry into the foundation set up in the war veteran鈥檚 name. They say they will not take up an option to appeal.
Wednesday 3 July 2024 19:31, UK
The daughter and son-in-law of Captain Sir Tom Moore have been banned from being charity trustees by the Charity Commission.
In a statement, the family said Hannah Ingram-Moore and her husband Colin have been disqualified from being one of the key volunteers who lead charities and decide how they are run.
The couple founded the Captain Tom Foundation in June 2020 in honour of the war veteran - after he shot to fame by doing sponsored laps of his garden during the COVID pandemic.
Shortly after his death in 2021, the commission opened a case into the foundation - amid concerns about its management and independence from Sir Tom's family - and launched an inquiry in June 2022.
The charity watchdog said the disqualifications came about because the level of misconduct or mismanagement in this case was serious enough.
While the Ingram-Moore family said they "fundamentally" disagreed with the charity watchdog's order, they made the "extremely difficult decision" not to appeal.
"We have been served an order of disqualification as trustees by the Charity Commission, it was stated that if we did not appeal this order, by 25 June 2024 deadline, we would appear on the register of removed persons," they said.
The family pointed out the inquiry has not concluded.
"The commission's failure to conclude the inquiry prolongs our deep distress and hinders our ability to move on with our lives, extending the pain and impact on our family and our father/grandfather's legacy," they added.
"It has been a harrowing and debilitating ordeal that has gone on for over two years.
"We are increasingly concerned that the Charity Commission's process may have evolved into a relentless pursuit, and question whether it is a tactic by the commission to make our lives more difficult, by suspending us in constant fear and mental anguish."
The family also said they have "never accessed or made any payments from the charity's bank account" and the disqualification doesn't state they "misappropriated" funds.
"Despite our vehement objections to the Disqualification Order, we have made the extremely difficult decision not to pursue an appeal," they added.
"The profound emotional upheaval and financial burden make such a course of action untenable."
Mrs Ingram-Moore was appointed interim chief executive officer of the foundation from August 2021 until April 2022 - with accounts published last year stating she received a gross salary of £63,750 in her role and £7,602 in expense payments for travel and administration between June 2021 and November 2022.
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She is not a trustee but Mr Ingram-Moore was still listed as being one of two trustees for the foundation on the commission's register of charities on Wednesday.
A lawyer for the family has previously stated the foundation could shut down.
Sir Tom raised £38.9m for the NHS, including Gift Aid, by walking 100 laps of his garden before his 100th birthday at the height of the first national COVID lockdown.
He was knighted by the late Queen during a unique open-air ceremony at Windsor Castle in summer 2020.
Charity Commission chief executive, David Holdsworth, said: "As a fair, independent and evidence-led regulator we only disqualify someone from serving as a trustee or a senior manager in a charity when the evidence gathered means it is proportionate and lawful to do so.
"The evidence in this investigation meant that the level of misconduct and/or mismanagement was serious enough to warrant this action.
"People generously support good causes with the clear expectation that trustees will act in the best interests of their charities.
"As an independent regulator, it is vital that we uphold and protect this trust, including by taking robust regulatory action where appropriate, based on firm evidence."
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