Sentebale chair’s decision to spend almost half a million pounds on consultancy fees ‘will form part of Charity Commission investigation’ | UK News

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According to an expert in charity management, the decision of Prince Harry’s charity chairman will almost half a million pounds on consultation fees and who she decided to pay.

Sky News saw a document from a source close to the trustees showing that an exposition of the £ 427,497 between June 2023 and January 2025 was spent on consultants on media, website and fundraising advice.

It comes as the Charity Commission said it has opened a “regulatory compliance case” to assess the concerns raised over centebale.

The expenses were said to be the chairman of the charity, Dr Sophie Chandauka, authorized.

A spokesperson for centebale, who confirmed that the number spent on consultants was’ approximately accurate ‘, told Sky News:’ Councilors for many non-profit organizations are intended to be individuals with skills relevant to the job, in addition to being well linked to the ability to create opportunities, contact and further resource.

‘For this, Dr Chandauka was specifically brought in because of her deep and broad networks in Africa, the United Kingdom and the US, and commercial experience and resources that can benefit cente bales.

‘Not all introductions made were recorded, and those who were in the right way at the time via the CEO, and COO, and their conditions of involvement and scope of the work were also defined by the CEO and COO in consultation with Land Director and the Chairman.

‘The board of directors regularly met where the resource requirements and budgets were discussed. In the case of senior advisers, the board did indeed participate in focus groups and other activities early in the transformation journey and it was very appreciation for their expertise and contributions. So it is quite surprising to hear the contrary.

“Dr Chandauka volunteers over 20 hours a week for centebale, Pro Bono, and her family have been the third largest donor to the organization over the past year.”

Lebec, a strategy and financial innovation firm, was most paid with an account of £ 185,000.

Iain Rawlinson, who was appointed as a new trustee last week and appeared with Dr Chandauka on Sky News, is also on the list of payments.

Mr. Rawlinson, who has been involved with philanthropic and charity work and extensive experience in Southern Africa since the 1980s, has been paid £ 24,000 and is said to be £ 66,000, but Sky News understands that no invoice has been submitted for the amount.

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A source close to the former Trustees of Centebale charity described Dr Chandauka’s claims as “completely unfounded”.

Global Philanthropic, the company of which Mr Rawlinson was director and chairman, received £ 21,000.

Sources close to the former trustees told Sky News about their great concern about the thousands of pounds spent on consultation work.

Sky News was told that through the consultation work, a financial promise that had to cover the cost of all the fees was paid some of it.

On the latest published figures until August 2023, Sentebale’s revenue was only £ 3.4m.

Experts believe that spending would undoubtedly require between 10% and 15% to a single item.

When asked by Trevor Phillips on Sky News Sunday Regarding whether his expensive consultants rented from the board without approval, Dr Chandauka replied: “Well, it’s just not true. Iain is a witness.”

She said she reported the trustees to the Charity Commission and that a British court issued an order to stop them from removing her.

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The chairman of a charity erected by Prince Harry accused him of it

Geoff Hand, an expert for charity management and dispute resolution, told Sky News: “I doubt the Charity Commission would have the amount paid to consultants as such; they will be on the lookout for any clash of interests – for example, any personal connections between Sophia Chandauca and any of her chosen consultants.

‘They want to know that decisions to engage consultants have been taken by the right people [the trustees] and that the trustees took into account all relevant factors to make the decision. ‘

Last week it turned out that the founders of centebale, Prince Harry and Prince Seeiso of Lesotho, who call them the ‘Sad’ decided to retire in solidarity with the trusteeswho found the situation between them and Dr Chandauka “untenable”.

During her interview on Sunday Accused Prince Harry of “Harassment and Bullying on Scale”But a source close to the charity trustees described her allegations as “categories false” and “completely unfounded”.

Sky News has approached centebale on the work of consultants.

(L) Sophie Chandauka, chairman of the charity Centebale and (r) Prince Harry in Vancouver, Canada, in February. Pic: ap
Image:
(L) Sophie Chandauka, chairman of the charity Centebale and (r) Prince Harry in Vancouver, Canada, in February. Pic: ap

Specifically to address his work with Lebec, it told us: “In November 2023, Sentebale Lebec and his team of six consultants involved to provide tools and strategic guidance on how to better prepare for access to the US market and build credibility.

“In the course of a 12-month involvement, Lebec has successfully delivered against each deliverable, including facilitating 65 key connections with potential strategic partners, connections, advisory councilors and funders.

“This audience included individuals, family offices, corporations, foundations and partner without a profit with high net worth.”

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Sky News understands that Global Philanthropic was conducted in the fall of 2023 a ‘strategy envisaged’ project that Iain Rawlinson led, given its knowledge of Southern Africa. Iain was subsequently employed from April 2024 to advise Centebale on transformation strategy and management, its most important consultation practices. The scope of work and contract was agreed with the then CEO, Richard Miller.

Also on the list of payments is £ 41,451 for Sarah Sesien, who worked with Dr Chandauka at Morgan Stanley and the biotechnology business Nandi Life Sciences.

Dawn Whyte, who worked at the Black British Business Awards – founded by Dr Chandauka – was said to have been paid £ 26,110.

MM Media Consultant received £ 46,124, and an anonymous website consultant was paid £ 12,114.

Ms Whyte told us that she didn’t want to comment. Ms Seien did not respond to email, messages about or phone calls.

There were also allegations from both sides over who was responsible for the end of the relationship with a significant sponsor, ISPS Handa. As we approached ISPs for clarity, they said they “did not comment”.

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