Captain Toms charity to be investigated.

To note I have already posted my thoughts on his daughter. A family that is not all it was made out to be.

I thought it very distasteful that he wrote a book and in it gave intimate details of his marriage to his first wife. She would not have sex with him. Hmm, sweet? Not a word I would use to describe him.

We never have, and never will give to anything like this. I’m sure he was a sweet old man, but we just couldn’t see the point. All these money raising events are about raising profiles. Usually pointless celebrities.

I once worked for a charity but I am very uneasy when various family members are involved. There may be nothing untoward, but I don't think it looks right.

Yes the same for the charity I work for blondiescott (which has its issues like any organisation) I am not even a particular cheerleader for children in need but they keep many small local charities afloat.

I understand what people are saying about things like Children in Need, but I work for a very local charity which runs a centre for children with additional support needs and the grant funding we receive from them has been an absolute lifesaver! We have been able to run so many activities and provide so much support not just for the children but for their families too, so please don't dismiss Children in Need out of hand - they do provide absolutely vital funding for many little local charities around the country.

There was a local charity near me a few years back where the organiser made off with all the funds. I seem to remember a pub collecting for a charity and the landlord who organised it stealing the money. There needs to be accountability locally or nationally.

That's incredibly rare though and in my experience when people are talking about local charities they are talking about those with paid employees. And there is absolutely no guarantee I am afraid that those who arent being paid may also commit fraud. I am sure you were absolutely honest chestnut but those giving money to you cant know that for sure. Its I think a false reassurance.

Galaxy

What do you mean how can a charity function without anyone being employed. What do they do?

I was part of a civic society which was a charity. We all worked on a voluntary basis and a great deal of effort and hours were spent running events, collecting memberships and installing blue plaques. No-one was employed or paid.

What do you mean how can a charity function without anyone being employed. What do they do?

Galaxy

I am not sure why people think local charities would be any less vulnerable to fraud, mismanagement etc.

Local charities that I donate to, I will know the fund raisers involved and see were my money has gone. No one is being employed and it isn't silly amounts of money, like Children in Need where millions of pounds are raised. I am also very selective which Charity Shops get my stuff.

I am not sure why people think local charities would be any less vulnerable to fraud, mismanagement etc.

notgran

I never give to these sort of charities. Nor do I give anything to "Children in Need" type events. Too much money is squandered. Interesting that this week a report condemning "Kid's Company" has been released. Another criminal waste of our money. My money goes to local charities or ones I know how their money is spent. Captain Tom, bless him, was a welcome distraction during Lockdown but I didn't buy or donate anything. My income isn't large enough to fritter away.

I wholeheartedly agree with you. Our local school is fund raising for a sensory room to be built in their grounds. It will be a calm space for children with special needs or the quieter children who just need to chill out a little. I don't have any grandchildren there but we have supported various events they have held to swell the coffers. In Tesco this morning the self-service checkout asked me if I would like to 'round up my shopping' and before I presented my debit card at the petrol station last week it asked me if I wanted to donate. No thanks.

Lemsip how did you push Peasblossom’s post up the page? It is a good posting. I did wonder about the family setting up a separate charity when Captain Tom had gone. Pleased to hear all of the funds raised by him himself did go to charity.

what is the 'management' element for? managing the grants or managing the charity?

I find it sad that the media has to find something bad in things that are supposed to be good. His daughter isn't a trained media star, she was just his daughter. I find people judging her character rather unpleasant. I know those that lived or worked locally knew the family had to put in security at the house as people kept getting into their garden, amongst other things.

I agree totally with HettyBetty. Tom's daughter was and is a very pushy woman only out to gain brownie points and get her company publicity.

A figure of £164,000 for admin. fees was mentioned on the radio the other day too.

Peasblossom

Just to be clear this is not the 33 million raised by his walk around his garden. That all went to the NHS Charities Together Fund.

This is a separate charity set up later.

Thanks for clarifying this so I've pushed it up the page...

love0c

HettyBetty I am with you there. I never fell for it either!

Yes, I know it was popular at the time, but it made me somewhat uncomfortable.

HettyBetty I am with you there. I never fell for it either!

Can't say I'm surprised.
The whole family left me cold including captain Tom

I never give to these sort of charities. Nor do I give anything to "Children in Need" type events. Too much money is squandered. Interesting that this week a report condemning "Kid's Company" has been released. Another criminal waste of our money. My money goes to local charities or ones I know how their money is spent. Captain Tom, bless him, was a welcome distraction during Lockdown but I didn't buy or donate anything. My income isn't large enough to fritter away.

The whole Captain Tom hysteria was very odd in my view but it was an unusual time. I was as convinced by it as I was by the clap for carers.

I didn’t realise there were two different charities. I am glad that his effort seems to have been distributed as it should have been.

It always seemed very dodgy to me. He was a sweet old man as far as I could tell but the whole thing was clearly to bring adulation to the family, especially that pushy daughter.

We gave money to a local relevant charity, we weren't happy about the whole Captain Tom thing and the way so many people fell for it.

Thanks for clarifying Peasblossom, I should have done so.