The Captain Tom Foundation: Tarnishing a legacy

In April 2020, Captain Sir Tom Moore captured the hearts of the nation.

The then 99-year-old ex-serviceman raised an incredible £32.8 million for NHS Charities Together by walking around his garden a hundred times.

His efforts ignited a media frenzy, which ultimately saw him knighted by the late Queen Elizabeth II.

Sadly, the WWII veteran contracted COVID and died in February 2021. But he left an incredible legacy in the form of The Captain Tom Foundation, which his family set up to support "causes close to his heart".

However, just four short years later, the Foundation is set to close down.

What went wrong?

In February 2022, the Charity Commission launched an investigation into the Foundation after concerns were raised over its finances.

According to the Foundation’s accounts, four charities received grants of £40,000 in year one, but £209,433 was spent on ‘costs’, including £162,336 on "management".

Three days later, it emerged that the foundation had paid £54,039 to two companies owned by Captain Tom’s daughter, Hannah Ingraham-Moore, and her husband; one of which was registered days before the charity was incorporated.

Response

In response to the controversy, Ms Ingram-Moore insisted on ITV’s This Morning that she was devoted to safeguarding her father’s memory. You can see the interview, in full, here.

Profiting

By June 2022, a formal investigation was opened after the Charity Commission received evidence of ‘possible serious misconduct’ amid allegations the Moore family had been profiting from the charity.

In particular, the regulator wanted to look into allegations that Club Nook Ltd, (one of the private companies owned by the Ingram-Moore’s), had profited by trademarking the name Captain Tom.

Then, in August 2023, a BBC Newsnight investigation found that thousands of pounds were paid to Maytrix Group, (another company owned by Ms Ingram-Moore), for appearances made in connection with the Captain Tom Foundation charity, rather than to the Foundation itself.

To top it off, in an interview on TalkTV's Piers Morgan Uncensored in October 2023, Ingram-Moore admitted the family kept the profits from three books that Captain Sir Tom wrote.

She said there’d been no agreement with her father that the £800,000, would go to charity.

But the prologue to his autobiography, Tomorrow Will be a Good Day, suggests otherwise: "With the offer to write this memoir I have also been given the chance to raise even more money" for the Foundation.

The takeaways

The Charity Commission’s investigation is ongoing. Until the results are published, it’s a case of ‘innocent until proven guilty.’ But it acts as a stark reminder to trustees as to the importance of:

• Understanding the nature of your statutory duties of responsibility and care

Decisions must be made in the best interests of the charity and demonstrated through record-keeping.

• Identifying and managing conflicts of interest

A conflict of interest is any situation in which a trustee's personal interests or loyalties could prevent the trustee from making a decision in the best interests of the charity.

The government guidelines on dealing with conflict of interests are clear. The three fundamental steps are:

• to identify a conflict of interest before it becomes a liability

• clearly document it, and;

• deal with it through appropriate measures

A robust conflicts of interest policy

Trustees must be able to demonstrate that they understand and follow the conflict of interest policy.
Where an actual or potential conflict of interest is declared, it must be recorded, along with the action taken.

Reputation management

Trustees must ensure that the charity’s name and logo (and the goodwill attached to it) are being used appropriately.

Final Word

Looking for a compliance-savvy fundraiser? We can help. Give us a call on 0203 750 3111 or email info@bamboofundraising.co.uk to get the conversation started.

Dates for the diary: Fundraising Conferences in 2024

Planning to attend a fundraising conference this year?

If not, you’re missing out.

They’re excellent opportunities to expand your knowledge, keep your finger on the pulse of industry trends, and build relationships with potential donors, volunteers, and suppliers.

And there are plenty to choose from.
Here are our top picks.

Researchers in Fundraising (RiF)

Date: 29 January
Location: London
Cost: From £148.57

RiF is an opportunity for the prospect research community to come together and listen to experienced speakers talk about the most pressing trends, debates, and developments in the sector.

The theme of this year’s event is “Beyond Boundaries - Towards a new paradigm for prospect research."

Speakers: Rhodri Davies (Why Philanthropy), Ben Rymer (UNICEF), Molly Rowan (Terra Firma Capital Partners), Laura Owen (UNICEF), Beca Daniel (Xapien), Claire Miller (Save the Children UK), Suzie Stephens (The Prospect Development Company), Ed Raichura-Brown (Marble Prospects) and Hannah Clarke (UCL).

Book your ticket

Fundraising Now

Date: 31 January & 1 February
Location: Online
Cost: From £149

Whether you’re a seasoned professional looking to stay up to date with the latest developments in fundraising, or a newcomer to the field looking to learn the basics, Fundraising Now has got you covered.

The two-day conference, hosted by the Director of Social Change covers everything, from individual giving to faith-based fundraising.

It’ll equip you with the knowledge and skills you need to boost your digital fundraising, and grants income, in 2024.

Why attend?

• Gain actionable tactics to improve your fundraising programs

• Learn best practices from leading charity professionals

• Get ahead of trends with the latest techniques and strategies

• Access inspiring and motivating perspectives from influencers

• Build your professional network and collaborate with peers

• Recharge your passion for fundraising and your charity’s mission

Speakers: George Knight, DSC 

Book your ticket

Tech Summit

Date: 7 February
Location: Online
Cost: From £25+VAT

Join senior charity leaders at Third Sector's Tech Summit to explore the potential of technology for the sector, including leveraging social media to create a sense of community with your donors and transforming your fundraising.

Why attend?

• Understand practical and potential uses of technology in the third sector

• Identify your needs and find the ideal digital approach that works best for your organisation

• Meet senior leaders from local clubs through to national charities

• Discover our community and engage with like-minded organisations from across the UK

• Learn from charities at different stages of their technology journey, from pioneers to those at the beginning of their growth

Speakers: Emily Burt, (Third Sector), Athar Abidi (Cancer Research UK), Zoe Amar, (Zoe Amar Digital), Aisha Baker-Smith (UNICEF UK), Kevin Bould, (Teenage Cancer Trust), Russell Findlay (Speakers Trust), Noha Al Afifi (Arthritis Action)

Book your ticket

Legacy Fundraising Virtual Conference

Date: 15 February
Location: Online
Cost: £51.57

Fundraising Everywhere is hosting a celebration of everything legacy fundraising, bringing together a mix of global experts from the UK and abroad to help you grow your gifts in wills and in-memory income.

Whether you’re an early-stage legacy fundraiser who wants to learn how to grow your legacy programme, or a seasoned professional who wants to innovate in a rapidly changing world, this one is for you.

Speakers: Juliet Hinton-Smith (Scope) Jake O'Dwyer (Stonewall Equality), Doug Clow, Legacy Foresight, Holly Wagg, (Good Works), Claire Routley (Legacy Voice)

Book your ticket

Elevate

Date: 20 March
Location: London
Cost: From £99

Organised by Fundraising Magazine, Elevate ‘brings to life the issues facing fundraisers today.’

The programme focuses on three key areas:

• fundraising skills & solutions

• fundraising tools & trends

• digital and technology

Incorporating a mix of plenary sessions, lively panel debates, and charity case studies, this year’s conference has been carefully designed to ensure you leave with the right strategies, processes, and systems in place to take your fundraising to the next level.

Sessions and speakers:

The subscription solution: Evolving fundraising models to reach new audiences, Kirsty Alexander, Shelterbox

• Maximising face-to-face fundraising with a retention-first mindset, Abena Bentum, GOSH

• Out with accessibility, in with inclusive design, Robin Christopherson, AbilityNet

• A collective vision for change and transformation - lessons learned, Cam St-Omer Donaldson, British Red Cross

• Why do digitally mature charities raise more? Trends and tips to harness technology and data in your fundraising, Rebecca Williams, Blackbaud

• Employing developments in AI for smarter fundraising, Zoe Amar, Zoe Amar digital, Pierre du Bois, Paul Strickland Scanner Centre 

• Navigating a CRM migration project, Chloe Butler, RNID

• Navigating the future of fundraising: technology, trends, and timeless principles, Will De Ath, Everfund

• Shock, hope, and fear – being bold with emotive campaigns to grab headlines, Stephen Cotterill, Fundraising magazine, Noha Al Afifi, Arthritis Action, Tracey Pritchard, RSPCA 

Book your ticket

On the hunt for a fundraiser? We can help. Give us a call on 020 3750 3111 or email us at info@bamboofundraising.co.uk to get started.

Introducing HelpFilm

Video is one of the most impactful ways for charities to promote their services, increase engagement, and inspire people to donate.

In fact, 57% of donors use video to make giving decisions.

This makes video an essential part of the fundraising toolkit.

However, for many small charities, promotional films are an unaffordable luxury … unless you know where to look.

Enter HelpFilm.

HelpFilm is an award-winning media production charity that produces high-end video and animation content for small charities.

Founded by former television director Alan Walsh, and staffed by a team of professional filmmakers, it aims to ‘promote the power of storytelling in a sector where resources are limited’.

HelpFilm achieves this by filming, producing, and editing compelling promotional films and absorbing the costs.

Wait, absorbing the costs?

Yep, the films are free. However, charity partners are given the option to contribute 10% of the final fee to support the production of future videos.

Track record

Since launching in 2020, HelpFilm has created emotive video content for a range of worthy causes, including Hope for Children, Children’s Heart Federation, Sumatran Orangutan Society, and Kids Inspire.

And 2022 was their most successful year to date. They saw a whopping 312% increase in applications and five of their films were shortlisted for Charity Film Awards.

One of the finalists was Birch Tree Café in Northamptonshire.
The café with a purpose’ is a place where young people with Down’s Syndrome can go to work, socialize, and be accepted.

Check out their video here.

Open for business

HelpFilm is inundated with requests for help. So they only accept applications during certain periods of the year.

The good news? They’re open for business.

If you want to level up your video content, the first step is to fill out the online application form.

If your application is successful, Helpfilm’s Communications Manager will meet with you to discuss your charity and the film concept in more depth.

The details of this meeting, together with the referral form will then be shared with the wider team, and they’ll decide whether to give your project the ‘green light’.

Criteria

HelpFilm only works with small charities (with an annual income of up to £1 million), and limited communications teams (4 people max).

On its website, the charity also states that applications will be rejected if:

• the referral form is incomplete or the organisation is not a registered charity

• your charity has an existing film portfolio online

• HelpFilm has worked with your charity in the past

• your organisation is a startup and its impact cannot be measured

• it’s unclear what your charity is trying to achieve

Need an additional fundraising bod to manage the application? We can help. Give us a call on 020 3750 3111 or email us at info@bamboofundraising.co.uk to get started.

Peer-to-peer fundraising hit an all-time high on JustGiving in 2023

Happy New Year folks!

We hope you enjoyed some downtime over the Christmas break and have returned to work feeling refreshed, recharged, and positive about the year ahead.

If not, this blog post should change your mindset.

Here’s some good news to kick off 2024.

Fundraising is on the up

According to JustGiving, 2023 was a record-breaking year for fundraising.

Despite the challenges posed by the cost-of-living crisis, a whopping £550 million was raised through the platform, benefitting 20,000 good causes across the UK.

The highest amount raised since JustGiving launched in 2020, the numbers tell us two things:

1.   People are still giving.

2.   Peer-to-peer (p2p) fundraising is on the rise.

With this in mind, here are a few key takeaways from 2023 to inform your fundraising strategy for the year ahead.

According to JustGiving:

• 950,000 JustGiving fundraising pages were set up, an average of 2,600 pages per day (9% more than 2022).

• There were two million more donations to charities in 2023 compared to 2022, with 3.5 million people donating to a good cause more than once.

• The most popular fundraising activities were running, walking, cycling, and swimming. Over 65 million miles were recorded on fundraisers’ Fitbits and Strava apps (the equivalent of 2600 laps around Earth, or 169 trips to the moon!).

• Skipping challenges saw a 286% increase in popularity from 2022, raising almost £230,000.

• London Marathon fundraisers raised over £39 million, including £2m+ on race day alone.

• £1.5 million was raised through live streaming, via Twitch, YouTube, and TikTok.

• Thousands of brave fundraisers jumped out of planes for good causes, collectively raising £5.5 million (a 40% increase on 2022).

• Norwich proved to be the most charitable city in 2023, (22% of residents donating to good causes), followed by Bristol, Reading, and Cambridge.

• Schools across the UK raised an incredible £605,000.

Fundraising in action

Those are the stats. Now let’s look at some of the inspirational fundraisers that contributed to that incredible total.

Prepare to have your cockles warmed.

Seren Price

At just five years old, Seren Price became the youngest person ever to complete the Three Peaks Challenge.

Together with her father, Glynn, Seren battled snow, poor visibility, and -18C temperatures, to conquer the summits of Yr Wyddfa, (formally known as Snowdon) in North Wales, Ben Nevis in Scotland, and Scafell Pike in northern England in little under two days.

The duo had intended to complete the challenge in 24 hours but stopped to help a fellow climber on Ben Nevis who had become fatigued and needed help back down the mountain.

The selfless young climber raised over £7,000 for Birmingham Children’s Hospital.

Joshua Patterson

For most people, one marathon is a struggle. But not for Josh Patterson.

Last year, the TV personality and mental health campaigner ran 76 marathons in 76 days in each of the UK’s 76 cities, to raise awareness and money for mental health charity, Samaritans.

He started his epic challenge in February, in Inverness, and crossed the finish line in London’s Pall Mall on May 13, to the cheers of hundreds of supporters.

He travelled across the UK in a camper van and battled all weather conditions to complete the challenge.

By the end of the 11 weeks, he’d covered a whopping 1992 miles, bagged himself a Guinness World Record for ‘the most cities to run a marathon distance in, on consecutive days’, and raised more than £320,000 for Samaritans.

Gabriel Clark

13-year-old Gabriel is a bit of a whizz when it comes to woodwork.

The teen first went viral in 2022 after launching a unique fundraiser to help children affected by the war in Ukraine.

Gabriel spent hours crafting a wooden bowl, which he dubbed 'Bowl for Ukraine'. He finished the bowl off by etching a blue-and-yellow ring round it in the colours of the country's flag.

His father, Richard launched a raffle on social media, which attracted thousands of entries and a phenomenal £250,000 for Save the Children.

Spurred on by the success of Bowl for Ukraine, the 13-year-old, who taught himself woodwork and has been honing his craft since the age of four, created 'The Hope Bowl' in 2023, to support children further afield.

The bowl, which took him ten hours to turn, comprised of three types of wood – ash, sapele, and zebrano – representing three of the main areas of Save the Children’s work around the world – education, food, and medicine.

Gabriel’s efforts raised more than £24,000 for the charity’s Emergency Fund to support children in crisis globally, taking his fundraising total to nearly £275,000.

Final Word

Looking to add a community fundraiser to your team in 2024? We can help. Give us a call on 0203 750 3111 or email info@bamboofundraising.co.uk to get started.

Five psychological hacks to help you unwind over the festive period

2023 has been another challenging year for the charity sector. The cost-of-living crisis provoked a cost-of-giving crisis. And charities have suffered as a result. 

They’re having to adjust to rising costs while managing the added challenge of people needing them more than ever, while donor income is squeezed.

And it’s all been compounded by staff shortages.

It’s no surprise that 36% of charity sector employees are suffering from professional burnout, and 35% more are on the brink.

Roll on Christmas

The festive break is the perfect opportunity to grab a glass of mulled wine, put your feet up and enjoy some much-needed R&R.

But that’s easier said than done. For some of us, relaxation doesn’t come easy.

To help you switch off, we’ve compiled five top tips from experts in the fields of health, science, and psychology.

1.     Practice ‘doing nothing’

“If you spend most of the year being highly productive, relaxing and experiencing ‘stillness’ may feel like wasted time,” says Dr Jason Culp, a naturopathic doctor at the multiple award-winning Chiva-Som spa resort in Hua Hin, Thailand.

“However,” he continues, “it is within these moments that we become fully aware of the present, letting go of what we have done and what we should do.

Practicing present-moment awareness is one of the easiest ways to drop into holiday mode.’

He recommends yoga, meditation, and simple breathing exercises to induce relaxation.

Need a little encouragement? Check out Vinyasa yoga expert Max Strom’s popular TedX talk, ‘Breathe to Heal’.

2.     Get in the water

If meditation isn’t for you, why not give cold water swimming a go?

Joe Minihane, writer of Floating: A Life Regained says, “going for a wild swim is a surefire way to decompress. The fact you can’t take your phone in the water with you means the only things you need to focus on are kicking your legs, moving your arms, and slowing your breathing down.

Research has shown that just three minutes spent in cold water has an anti–inflammatory effect, helping to reduce stress. Throw in a quick hit of dopamine, a post–exercise endorphin rush and you can swim back to the beach or lake shore certain of the fact you’ll have washed away the worries of work.”

We know what you’re thinking. Its winter. It’s the UK. The water will be freezing.

You’re right. But the colder the water, the better it is for you. So, check out the Bluetits Chill Swimmers website, find a local group, and start reaping the rewards.

3.     Get back to nature

Another powerful de-stressor? Nature.

A study published in Frontiers in Psychology found that just twenty minutes in the great outdoors is enough to significantly reduce cortisol levels.

Dr. MaryCarol Hunter, Associate Professor at the University of Michigan and lead author of the research said, “we know that spending time in nature reduces stress, but until now it was unclear how much is enough, how often to do it, or even what kind of nature experience will benefit us. Our study shows that for the greatest payoff, in terms of lowering levels of the stress hormone cortisol, you should spend 20 to 30 minutes each day sitting or walking in a place that provides you with a sense of nature.”

The American Heart Association also recommends spending time outside to reduce stress, anxiety and boost your overall mental well-being.

4.     Practise self-awareness

Many of our decisions are made on autopilot.

Psychologists call this ‘System 1’ thinking. It’s fast, unconscious, and prone to biases and errors.

To break a habit (i.e., checking our work emails every ten minutes when we should be enjoying some downtime), we need to engage ‘System 2’ thinking, which is conscious and controlled.

Ready to switch? Psychologist Peter Willis recommends doing the following:

• Take 5 deep breaths and close your eyes.

• Become conscious of the touch of your keypad or the phone in your hand.

Then ask yourself the following two questions and think through the consequences.

“What am I saying yes to by opening my emails during my holiday?”
Consequences: “I’m encouraging my boss to intrude on my personal space.” Or “I’m saying yes to more stress and possible burnout.”

“What am I saying no to?”
Consequences: “I’m saying no to quality time with my son.” “I’m saying no to giving my body and mind time to recover.”

Questioning the consequences of our actions is a simple way to interrupt the habit cycle. 

5.     Bargain with yourself

For some of us, the act of taking time off can result in an immense amount of unavoidable guilt.

Data published by the Pew Research Center in May 2023 found that nearly 49% of workers surveyed say they don’t take leave for fear of falling behind at work. 

If you struggle with holiday guilt, psychotherapist James Ullrich’s advice is to “negotiate a deal with yourself. Try striking a bargain to put a little bit of work in here and there, in return for extended downtime.”

Make a commitment to work for three hours in the morning, then relax for the rest of the day. And stick to it.

Happy Christmas from the Bamboo team!