Big Help Project Winding-Up Petition: What It Means for Southport FC

A winding-up petition was filed against the Big Help Project (charity number 1141024) by TotalEnergies Gas & Power Ltd, with a High Court hearing scheduled for 14 May 2025. The petition, formally listed in The Gazette, cited unpaid debts and carried potentially serious consequences—not just for the charity, but for the ongoing statutory inquiry into its affairs and its connection to Southport Football Club.

As of publication, there is no public confirmation of the petition’s outcome. It remains unclear whether the order was dismissed, withdrawn, adjourned, or granted. Southport Central contacted the Charity Commission to ask whether it was aware of the petition and whether it had taken regulatory action in relation to the proceedings.

In response, a Charity Commission spokesperson said:

“We have an ongoing statutory inquiry into Big Help Project to assess a number of concerns, including whether the charity has accurately accounted for its funds and assets in line with legal requirements and if conflicts of interest have been adequately managed. It would not be appropriate to comment on legal action being taken by third parties.”

If the winding-up petition had been granted, the charity would have entered compulsory liquidation, with control of its assets passing to an insolvency practitioner or the official receiver. This would likely have curtailed the Commission’s powers to issue directions, disqualify trustees, or pursue an ongoing investigation—particularly in relation to connected parties or affiliated companies.

As reported this week in The Post, the petition was filed amid the wider collapse of the Big Help Group and its linked entities. On 21 May, around 40 employees at Big Help Group and Big Help Trading were reportedly told they had lost their jobs without notice or redundancy pay. Secretly recorded audio, published by The Post, captured staff reacting with disbelief as Big Help director Andrew Moorhead confirmed that the companies were out of money.

Former employees described increasingly desperate efforts to conceal branded materials and valuables from bailiffs, who were reportedly visiting Big Help premises on a weekly basis by mid-2024. One ex-staffer claimed a “Head of Enforcement” had been appointed to manage incoming debt collectors. Big Help Homes CIC, one of the group’s major housing providers, entered administration in March 2025 with debts of at least £14 million.

The Commission’s inquiry, which remains open, is focused on concerns over governance and financial controls—alongside questions around conflicts of interest and dealings with connected entities.

One of those connected entities—the Big Help Group—acquired a c.76% stake in Southport FC in October 2023. Individuals closely linked to the Big Help Project charity, including Peter Mitchell, Colette Goulding, and Tammy Burgess, went on to hold senior roles within both the football club and the charity.

The uncertainty surrounding the winding-up petition has added to the complexity of the club’s ongoing ownership transition. On 13 May—just one day before the scheduled petition hearing—Peter Mitchell and Colette Goulding were declared personally bankrupt. The club has since confirmed that the aforementioned individuals associated with the Big Help Group have now fully exited.

While the Charity Commission’s inquiry is still in progress, the formal conclusion of Southport FC’s ownership handover has not yet been finalised. Over a month has now passed since Peter Mitchell announced a period of exclusivity in the proposed sale of Big Help Group’s shared. As at publication, no formal confirmation of the transfer has been made. Southport Central will continue to monitor developments and provide updates as more information becomes available.

Editorial Note:
This article is based on verified public records, Companies House filings, The Gazette notice, published reporting by The Post, and direct correspondence with the Charity Commission. As of publication, the outcome of the winding-up petition against the Big Help Project charity has not been confirmed by the Charity Commission or the courts. The Commission declined to comment on the legal proceedings, citing its policy not to discuss legal action involving third parties.

Sources
– Charity Commission correspondence (received June 2025)
– The Big Help empire has collapsed. Now, Peter Mitchell looks to Ukraine – Liverpool Post (https://www.livpost.co.uk/exclusive-the-big-help-empire-has-collapsed-now-peter-mitchell-looks-to-ukraine/) (May 2025)
– Petitions to Wind Up Companies – The Gazette , published 2 May 2025

Related Coverage from Southport Central
– Nov 2023 Update: Big Help Group Takeover
(https://www.southportfootballclub.co.uk/nov-2023-update-big-help-group-takeover/) (November 2023)
– When is a Director Not a Director—Who Cares and Why Does it Matter?
(https://www.southportfootballclub.co.uk/when-is-a-director-not-a-director-who-cares-and-why-does-it-matter/) (January 2024)
– Rule 2.13: Significant Interest
(https://www.southportfootballclub.co.uk/rule-2-13-significant-interest/) (January 2024)
– Charity Commission Confirms Protective Orders
(https://www.southportfootballclub.co.uk/charity-commission-confirms-protective-orders/) (May 2025)
– Potential Storm Brewing Over Southport FC Ownership Transfer
(https://www.southportfootballclub.co.uk/potential-storm-brewing-over-southport-fc-ownership-transfer/) (May 2025)
– Takeover Progress – But No Clear Resolution Yet
(https://www.southportfootballclub.co.uk/takeover-progress-but-no-clear-resolution-yet/) (May 2025)
– Southport FC’s 2024 Accounts
(https://www.southportfootballclub.co.uk/southport-fcs-2024-accounts/) (May 2025)
– Yet Another Ownership Change on the Horizon at Southport FC
(https://www.southportfootballclub.co.uk/yet-another-ownership-change-on-the-horizon-at-southport-fc/) (May 2025)
– Goulding and Mitchell Declared Bankrupt: The Implications for Southport FC
(https://www.southportfootballclub.co.uk/goulding-and-mitchell-declared-bankrupt-the-implications-for-southport-fc/) (May 2025)