‘Don’t stop giving’ request, despite damning Sir Tom Moore report.
A Milton Keynes fundraising expert has implored benefactors not to be distracted by negative stories surrounding charities and to continue supporting the city’s good causes.
Vanessa Holmes, an associate director at Milton Keynes Hospital Charity, was reacting to today’s news that the family of pandemic fundraiser Sir Tom Moore gained ‘significant’ financial benefit from links to a charity set up in his name, according to a report.
The investigation, by the Charity Commission, into The Captain Tom Foundation found repeated instances of misconduct or mismanagement by the family of the late fundraiser, who formed the charity.
The official report is highly critical of the conduct and actions of the charity’s former trustee and CEO Hannah Ingram-Moore and her husband Colin Ingram-Moore. It sets out evidence of serious failings in the charity’s management, including failures to act solely in the best interests of the charity and to effectively identify and manage conflicts of interest. The pair have already been banned from being charity trustees.
MKFM was the first news outlet to report on Sir Tom, a 100-year-old war veteran who raised £39 million for NHS Charities Together by walking 100 laps of his garden during the Coronavirus pandemic of 2020.
Now Vanessa Holmes has spoken out about how damaging negative stories can be to the confidence built between charities and the public. But she added that generally, there is lots of good work going on every day by charities.
“Despite the news today, let’s remember that there is so much happening within the charity sector that is positive and making lasting change to people's lives,” she said. “And it needs the public to help sustain that.
“So my ask to you is please, don't let this stop you working with a charity, or make a donation to a cause. In fact, I think at this point your support is needed more than ever.”
The Milton Keynes Hospital Charity was set up to enhance the experience of patients, families and staff at MK University Hospital.
