Independent investigation launched into accounts of Captain Tom Foundation
The Captain Tom Foundation was founded in June 2020 by the beloved army veteran's family, and aims to support the older generation and promote social inclusion.
A watchdog has announced it is to independently investigate The Captain Tom Foundation after concerns were raised over its accounts.
The Captain Tom Foundation was founded in June 2020 by the beloved army veteran’s family after he became a household name in a bid to continue his efforts, and aims to support the older generation and promote social inclusion.
But The Charity Commission – which is an independent, non-ministerial government department – has been working with the organisation since March last year after issues surrounding its governance arose, and now, following the publication of the charity’s accounts on Friday, which were widely publicised, the watchdog has confirmed a case has been opened looking at its regulatory compliance.
According to the published accounts – which cover the charity’s first year from 5 May 2020 to 31 May 2021 – The Captain Tom Foundation accumulated £1.1 million in donations, and paid out grants to four charities worth £40,000 each.
However, it also spent £209,433 on support costs – including £162,336 on “management”.
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Of these named management costs, £126,424 was spent on “fundraising consultancy fees”, and £20,884 was used in “advertising and marketing expenditure”.
The financial statement also showed reimbursement costs of £16,097 paid to Club Nook Limited – a company which is run by Captain Tom’s daughter, Hannah Ingram-Moore – and these costs were for said to be for accommodation, security ,and transport relating to Captain Tom “travelling around the UK to promote the charitable company”.
Today marks one year since the passing of Captain Sir Tom Moore.
On this anniversary, we remember a figure of inspiration who showed the world how much you can still achieve, even at the grand age of 100. He gave hope to the world and is dearly missed. pic.twitter.com/HB7nhmOeD7
Speaking on the investigation, a spokesperson for The Charity Commission said: “We have been in ongoing contact with the trustees of the Captain Tom Foundation on its set-up and governance arrangements and as part of this work will now assess the charity’s recently submitted accounts.”
It said it had an open regulatory compliance case into the charity, but that did not mean it had made any finding of wrongdoing.
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In response, Stephen Jones – Chair of Trustees for The Captain Tom Foundation – said: “As a young charity, we have been working closely with the Charity Commission since we launched, and we welcome their input following the publication of our recent audited annual accounts.”
Captain Tom – who was born in Keighley in Yorkshire, and sadly passed away back in February 2021 at aged 100 after testing positive for COVID-19 – captured the hearts of the nation in April 2020 after he raised over £39 million for NHS Charities Together by walking 100 laps of his garden before becoming a centenarian.
After first receiving a title of honorary colonel, Sir Tom was then knighted by the Queen during a unique open-air ceremony at Windsor Castle in July 2020.
Featured Image – Captain Tom Moore
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Brewdog’s beer hotel in Manchester has closed with immediate effect
Daisy Jackson
The ‘beer hotel’ operated by Brewdog in Manchester has closed with immediate effect, as part of the Scottish brewery’s £33m sale.
A whopping 38 Brewdog bars around the UK have closed, resulting in hundreds of job losses.
As well as the beer hotel known as DogHouse in Manchester, which was home to a large bar and rooftop terrace, the Oxford Road brewpub known as the OutPost has also closed.
The DogHouse Hotel on Fountain Street had a range of boutique bedrooms, fitted with features like beer fridges in the shower, beer taps in the room, guitars, record players, and pet beds.
Just 11 pubs have been retained in the rescue deal, including the Brewdog bar on Peter Street in Manchester city centre.
The brewery has been bought by US beverage and medical cannabis company Tilray for £33m, a sale which includes its UK brewery operations, brand, and a handful of pubs.
Yesterday, Brewdog announced all of its bars would be closed for the day to enable staff to attend staff meetings.
Administrators confirmed yesterday that 484 jobs had been lost in the sale, with 38 bars closing.
Unite, the union which represents thousands of hospitality workers, said it is ‘appalled’ at how Brewdog staff have been treated during the sale.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “This is a devastating day for Brewdog workers. Nearly 500 lost livelihoods while yet another corporate deal is stitched together behind closed doors.
“Brewdog workers built this brand. They deserved respect. Instead, they were treated as disposable pawns. Unite will not rest until our members have legal and financial justice.”
Unite national lead for hospitality Bryan Simpson said: “The way in which senior management have conducted themselves throughout this sales process has been nothing short of a national disgrace – with workers being given no information about the company’s plans or their futures.
“For the CEO to tell workers that they were redundant with immediate effect, on a conference call with only 25 minutes notice, has echoes of P&O and is deplorable. Unite will be ensuring that our members receive everything they are legally entitled to.”
Brewdog was founded in 2007 by friends James Watt and Martin Dickie.
Council approves £1 billion budget to ‘improve Manchester’ after 14 years of Government funding cuts
Emily Sergeant
Manchester City Council has officially approved a £1 billion budget for 2026/27.
After 14 years of funding cuts and ‘unfunded pressures’ from 2010 to 2024, which saw Manchester among the hardest hit places in the country, Manchester City Council says that its financial position has improved this year due to ‘fairer funding’ from the current Government which overall reflects the city’s needs.
For the first time this year, the Council’s revenue budget exceeds £1 billion (£1.045 billion, to be exact.)
This leaves the Council able to invest even more in supporting residents’ priorities, and ultimately begin to build back some of things which were previously affected by austerity.
As well as continuing to support those who are considered to be most in-need in the city, this current 2026/27 budget also makes a series of investments in measures – which the Council says will make ‘visible improvements’ across the city.
Some of these measures include £5.13m towards ‘ significantly enhancing’ street cleaning services across the city, more than £1.7m to boost the maintenance of public spaces, especially parks and green spaces, and almost £1m to further crack down on flytipping and littering.
This year, there’ll also be one-off investments of £1.1m improve road, pavement, and path surfaces, and £500,000 to increase pavement and footpath gritting in local centres.
The Council has approved a £1 billion budget to ‘improve Manchester’ / Credit: Chris Curry (via Unsplash) | Manchester City Council
Elsewhere, capital funding will continue to be used to build the Council, social, and ‘genuinely affordable’ homes that the city needs, as well as invest in local high streets and district centres across the city.
“Manchester is an incredible city which we are all proud to call home,” commented Cllr Bev Craig, who is the leader of Manchester City Council.
“We’re seeing record levels of investment in our neighbourhoods and communities, more council and social homes built than for decades and stronger economic growth than anywhere in the UK.
“But we believe that Manchester can be even better, and that’s what we’re determined that this budget will help achieve – a city where everyone can have a good home, a good job and a good life in an well cared for, invested-in neighbourhood.
“That’s exactly where the extra funding available to us in this budget is being focused.”
Emily Sergeant -
10th February 2022 
