The daughter and son-in-law of the record-breaking fundraiser Captain Sir Tom Moore have been banned from being charity trustees for up to 10 years.
The regulator said today it had disqualified Hannah Ingram-Moore and her husband, Colin, for 10 and eight years, respectively, as part of its ongoing statutory inquiry into the Captain Tom Foundation.
It prevents them from holding office or employment with senior management functions in charities for the duration of the ban.
The regulator typically does not announce such action until after the conclusion of an inquiry but it confirmed the disqualification after the family issued a statement about the ban, saying they “fundamentally disagreed with the conclusions reached by the Charity Commission”.
Hannah Ingram-Moore was a trustee of the foundation between 1 February and 15 March 2021 and was the charity’s interim chief executive between 1 August 2021 and 29 April 2022.
Colin Ingram-Moore was a trustee of the charity between 1 February 2021 until his disqualification came into effect on 25 June this year.
The commission opened a statutory inquiry into the charity in June 2022 to investigate serious concerns about the charity’s governance and financial controls.
The commission said: “In this instance, the legal test for disqualification was met because there has been misconduct and/or mismanagement, the individuals are not fit to be a trustee or hold senior management functions and disqualification is in the public interest,” the commission said.
It said it was unable to disclose further information about the inquiry until its conclusion, when it will publish a full report.
The statement from the Ingram-Moores said the regulator’s investigation was a “harrowing and debilitating ordeal”.
It said that although the family disagreed with the disqualification orders, they had decided not to appeal.
“The profound emotional upheaval and financial burden make such a course of action untenable.”
The statement also said: “The disqualification has been imposed without the conclusion of the statutory inquiry into The Captain Tom Foundation.
“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.”
David Holdsworth, chief executive of the Charity Commission, 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.”