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Amy Winehouse's home to house charity

London - Amy Winehouse's London home is to become the headquarters of her new rehab charity.

After the Back To Black singer, who battled drink and drug addictions, was found dead at her £2.5m property in Camden, north London, on July 23, her dad Mitch has revealed plans to make a "positive difference" by making the house the focal point of the Amy Winehouse Foundation.

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."

An insider added: "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.

Big plans

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

The 27-year-old star's family had reportedly planned on selling the property, but decided against it after concluding the place where Amy had died was "too precious" for anyone else to live in.

A source told The Sun newspaper: "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."

Setting up the foundation headquarters will be funded partly from the proceeds of Amy's new single, due for release on September 14, which would have been her 28th birthday, with jazz legend Tony Bennett.

Tony 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 most fitting tribute

Meanwhile, Mitch admitted the single, entitled Body and Soul, will be the most "fitting tribute" to his late daughter.

He explained: "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."

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