A place in the sun: How do a bankrupt charity boss and his councillor partner afford a “luxury” flat abroad?
Peter Mitchell and Colette Goulding signed a contract for a £2,700 per month apartment in one of Gibraltar’s “finest buildings”
Dear readers — What a fortnight it’s been. Nearly two weeks ago, we published our three-month investigation into Knowsley Foodbank, a charity that in recent years received at least £1.1 million in public funds from Knowsley council. We revealed that the food bank paid more than £195,000 to organisations that are part of the disgraced charitable enterprise, Big Help, run by ex-Labour councillor Peter Mitchell and his Labour councillor partner, Colette Goulding.
Following our reporting Colette Goulding has had the whip removed, pending an investigation by the party. She has not said anything publicly about Labour’s decision.
Today, we’re bringing you another shocking update. Post readers may remember Part Five of our Big Help investigation from May this year, which revealed how Mitchell had taken to Gibraltar to set up a new organisation: Big Help Overseas. This company claimed to have been founded to support refugees from war-torn Ukraine.
Mitchell and Goulding were made personally bankrupt in May 2025. The Post can now reveal that in the same week their insolvency was officially announced, the pair signed a rental agreement for a £2,700 per month flat in what an estate agent calls one of Gibraltar’s “finest buildings”. Documents leaked to The Post also show Mitchell’s allies were paying for an office space in the Spanish peninsula at the same time.
Additionally, we have learned that at least two members of Mitchell’s inner circle are currently living or working in properties purchased by Big Help Green. That company was set up by Mitchell in 2019. In 2020 Big Help Green received £500,000 from the now defunct charity, Big Help Project, on terms later questioned by a High Court judge. Big Help Green went on to buy a property portfolio that includes the redbrick house Mitchell and Goulding live in.
We approached Mitchell and Goulding for comment for this story, but they did not respond to our questions.
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A place in the sun: How do a bankrupt charity boss and his councillor partner afford a “luxury” flat abroad?
Peter Mitchell and Colette Goulding signed a contract for a £2,700 per month apartment in one of Gibraltar’s “finest buildings”