Foundation distributes none of its cash

The charity set up in honour of Peter Cook has today come under pressure after it was revealed that none of the £250,000 raised has yet been spent.

Most of the money – mainly generated by a Post-Humourous Tribute to Peter Cook benefit gig in 2002 – has been spent on fundraising and administration.

It means the foundation, which was set up by Cook’s widow Lin in 2000 with the stated aim of raising £7million to help youngsters with learning difficulties, has a surplus of just £50,000

The registered charity, whose patrons include Griff Rhys Jones, David Frost, Stephen Fry, Michael Palin, Eric Idle and Terry Jones, had intended to open a series of residential care homes with music centres.

But the Daily Telegraph today reveals the financial state of the charity, which is based in a small office in Hampstead, north London, near the home Cook shared with Lin.

In 2003-04, for example, the charity made a hefty loss. It received only £8,237 in donations, while its fundraising costs were listed as more than £11,000 and administration costs reached almost £29,000.

However trustee Andrew Miller promised a major announcement later this month

He told the paper: ‘We are going to have our own little home quite shortly and we are going to be looking after children.’

‘Whilst you say none of our funds have been distributed, that is correct. We have been working for about three or four years just getting the thing set up.’

Published: 10 Oct 2005