Winehouse plan to help thousands
Amy Winehouse’s father said the foundation he plans to set up in her name to support people struggling with drink and drugs would “help thousands of people”.
The singer was found dead at her north London home last month after a long and public battle with addiction.
Writing on Twitter today, Mitch Winehouse thanked fans for their “love”, adding: “The foundation is going to help thousands of people. That is Amy’s legacy.”
In a eulogy at his daughter’s funeral, Mr Winehouse said the foundation would be “something to help the things she loved – children, horses, but also to help those struggling with substance abuse”.
“In this country, if you cannot afford a private rehabilitation clinic, there is a two-year waiting list for help.”
Mr Winehouse visited Parliament earlier this week to plead with the Government to reform drug rehabilitation centres for youngsters.
With the last specialist NHS rehabilitation centre for youngsters closing last year, Mr Winehouse urged crime minister James Brokenshire and Keith Vaz, chairman of the Home Affairs Select Committee, to consider a “reallocation of resources”.
Mr Winehouse said: “There’s hundreds of thousands of young people in situations today that could be avoided, and these are our future policemen, doctors and lawyers and solicitors that we could help.
“We need to be able to help our children.”
The 27-year-old singer’s family is awaiting the results of toxicology tests to establish the cause of her death.
Because of Winehouse’s battles with drink and drugs, news of her death was quickly followed by suggestions it could be related to one or the other.
A post-mortem examination proved inconclusive and an inquest was opened and adjourned with no cause of death given.
