Amy Winehouse home to be HQ of rehab charity - The Sun

AMY Winehouse's home is to become the HQ of her rehab charity.

The tragic singer's loved ones believe it "makes sense" for the 2.5million property in Camden, North London, to be the focal point of the new Amy Winehouse Foundation.

It will be boosted by profits from a new single Amy, 27, made with music legend Tony Bennett.

The foundation will boost a wide range of "causes close to her heart", the singer's dad Mitch has revealed.

He said: "It could include help for children in trouble, kids suffering health problems, children's hospices and more.

"We want to make a positive difference."

The foundation will be run from Amy's home where she was found dead a fortnight ago.

Addicts

Mitch, Amy's record label Universal and her management team all agree it is the perfect place.

Though the charity will run separately from ex-cabbie Mitch's campaign to help young drug addicts, it is also expected to be involved in rehab projects.

The Winehouse family did discuss selling the ten-room, three-storey property.

But a source close to them said: "They think it's too precious to give up, hence the new HQ idea.

"They don't want to rent it out and if they sold it they think it could attract the wrong kind of buyer as it was where Amy passed away. They may sell one day but that would be some way off."

The mission statement of the Amy Winehouse Foundation is due to be formally announced on September 14, which would have been the Back To Black singer's 28th birthday.

The charity intends to raise funds, then distribute them to individual projects that apply for help.

Its coffers will be boosted immediately by profits from the touching duet Amy recorded in March with legendary crooner Tony Bennett.

The jazz classic, Body And Soul, will be released ahead of Tony's Duets II album, due out on September 20.

Tony, who turned 85 on Wednesday, said: "All the royalties will go to the foundation that Amy's father is starting to teach all the young children not to take drugs."

The source said: "It was one of the happiest days of Amy's life when she recorded with Tony. She was so excited about doing the song with him. They both fluffed the first nine takes and were being really hard on themselves.

"But on the tenth take they absolutely nailed it."

Mitch, 60, added: "I couldn't be happier that everyone involved with Amy and this recording felt they wanted to contribute. Amy was so excited to be working with Tony and really looking forward to her fans hearing the song.

"The fact that Amy's voice sounds as amazing and beautiful as ever and she is singing with the great Tony Bennett seems the most fitting tribute of all at this very difficult time."

The hard administrative slog of setting up the charity has now begun.

But the source said: "Everyone is united in making it a success - the label, her family, friends and management.

"Having the offices in her old house is something they all thought made sense.

"Mitch has big plans and needs a nice environment where employees will be able to carry out their work properly."

g.smart@the-sun.co.uk