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LONDON - The chief executive of a charity founded by Prince Harry has hit back at claims the organisation has done little to help vulnerable youngsters and spent thousands on start-up costs.
Geoffrey Matthews, the head of Sentebale, said ``every penny' donated by the public has or would be spent on community projects which help disadvantaged children.
Harry, 23, launched Sentebale - which means forget-me-not - in memory of his mother Diana, Princess of Wales, in 2006.
The organisation aims to help orphans and vulnerable children in the African country of Lesotho by offering projects financial aid and management support.
But the charity's first set of accounts published last week prompted criticism after the figures revealed more than Stg1.1 million ($NZ2.75 million) was raised from donations, trading and investment during its first 18 months while just Stg84,000 in grants was allocated.
Expenditure on charitable activities, excluding grants, was Stg374,000.
``Since Sentebale was founded, we have ensured that every penny received from the public to help Lesotho's orphans and vulnerable children ... has been, or will be, spent on project activity,' Matthews said in a statement.
``Crucially, if Sentebale finds it cannot spend that money safely and successfully it stays on deposit.
``All the money the charity spends on the London overheads ... and the money spent on the costs of the country director who runs Sentebale in Lesotho, comes from other sources - such as the funds Prince Harry raises playing polo and the money from the sale of the media rights to the ITV documentary (Prince Harry in) Lesotho: the Forgotten Kingdom.'
The chief executive added: ``By the end of August 2007, Stg84,000 had already been spent on donations in Lesotho, and by the end of August this year at least a further Stg225,000 will be spent directly on projects.'
The prince, who is joint patron of Sentebale with Lesotho's Prince Seeiso, travelled to Africa last November to visit some of the projects his charity is supporting.
``To do a proper job of setting up the charity inevitably meant spending time and some considerable money on the ground in Lesotho, and it is this period of Sentebale's life which is represented in the accounts for the first 18 months of its operation,' Matthews said.
Highlighting the charity's successes, the chief executive said: ``In January, Sentebale piloted, with Paul Newman's Hole in the Wall Foundation, the first of what will become a programme of camps for children living with HIV and Aids. It was a huge success.'
- PA
