A QUESTION on many people’s lips is, what exactly is the Madeleine McCann Fund?
According to the fund’s own website, it is a “non-charitable, not-for-profit company, which has been established to help find Madeleine McCann, to support her family, and to bring her abductors to justice”. Any surplus money “will be used to help families and missing children in the UK, Portugal and elsewhere”, it says.
The reason why the fund has not been set up as a charity is because in England and Wales, registered charities are required to demonstrate public benefit. Because the fund is currently focused on searching for one child, Madeleine McCann, it cannot register as a charity.
However, in the future, “at the point the fund starts to focus on abductions generally”, public benefit may be demonstrable and the fund may be able to register as a charity.
Another concern raised in some quarters is if it’s possible to claim tax relief on donations. This does not apply to the Madeleine fund as tax relief is only available for charitable donations.
The fund is operated by Peter Hubner, a retired consultant, Brian Kennedy, a retired head teacher and a member of the McCann family, John McCann, a medical representative and also a member of the family, Esther McVey, managing director of a public relations and communications company, Doug Skehan, clinical director in cardiology at Glenfield Hospital and Philip Tomlinson, a solicitor and former coroner in Leicestershire. None are being paid by the fund at the moment.
If you would like to know more about the fund “Leaving no Stone Unturned”, please visit: http://bringmadeleinehome.com/fund
