Sentebale Chair’s £500,000 Consultancy Fee Decision to Be Included in Charity Commission Investigation | UK News

The chair of Prince Harry’s Sentebale charity has come under scrutiny for her decision to allocate nearly half a million pounds for consulting fees, with the selection of these consultants being examined as part of an investigation by the Charity Commission, according to a charity governance expert.

Sky News has obtained documentation from a source linked to the trustees, revealing a detailed account of the £427,497 expended on consultancy services from June 2023 to January 2025 for media, website, and fundraising advice.

This development coincides with the Charity Commission’s announcement that it has initiated a “regulatory compliance case” to investigate concerns regarding Sentebale.

The funds were reportedly approved by the charity’s chair, Dr. Sophie Chandauka.

A Sentebale spokesperson, who verified that the amount spent on consultants is “roughly accurate,” explained to Sky News: “Board members of many non-profits should possess skills pertinent to the organization’s mission, as well as connections that can open doors, attract contacts, and provide further resources for the charity’s benefit.”

“In this regard, Dr. Chandauka was enlisted specifically for her extensive networks across Africa, the UK, and the US, alongside her commercial expertise and resources that could benefit Sentebale.

“While not all introductions made were pursued, those that were were scrupulously vetted through the CEO and COO at the time, with their terms of engagement and scope of work being defined in consultation with the necessary country directors and the chair.

“The board convened frequently to discuss resource needs and budget matters. Notably, in the case of senior advisers, the board actively participated in focus groups and other activities early in the transformation journey and expressed significant appreciation for their expertise and contributions. Thus, it’s surprising to encounter the contrary view.”

“Dr. Chandauka dedicates over 20 hours per week to Sentebale on a pro bono basis and her family was the third-largest donor to the charity last year.”

LEBEC, a firm specializing in strategy and financial innovation, received the largest payment of £185,000.

Included in the expenses is Iain Rawlinson, who was appointed as a new trustee last week and appeared alongside Dr. Chandauka on Sky News.

Mr. Rawlinson, who has been engaged in philanthropic and charitable activities since the 1980s and has notable experience in southern Africa, received £24,000 and is reported to be owed £66,000; however, Sky News understands no invoice has been presented for that amount at this time.

Global Philanthropic, the firm led by Mr. Rawlinson, received £21,000.

Sources associated with the former trustees have expressed significant worries regarding the substantial funds spent on consultancy work.

Sky News has been advised that a financial commitment made through the consultation endeavors was expected to cover all consulting fees, with some payments already made.

As per the most recent figures available up to August 2023, Sentebale’s income stood at only £3.4 million.

Experts indicate that expenditures of 10% to 15% on a single item would typically necessitate explicit approval from the trustees.

When questioned by Trevor Phillips on Sky News Sunday regarding whether she had enlisted expensive consultants without board approval, Dr. Chandauka stated: “That is simply not true. Iain is a witness.”

She claimed to have reported the trustees to the Charity Commission, stating that a UK court had imposed an injunction to prevent them from removing her.

Charity governance and dispute resolution expert Geoff Hand advised Sky News: “I doubt the Charity Commission will focus primarily on the amount spent on consultants; they will likely investigate potential conflicts of interest, for instance, any personal relationships between Sophia Chandauka and her selected consultants.

“They will want to ensure that the decisions to hire consultants were made appropriately by the trustees and that all pertinent factors were evaluated in reaching that decision.”

Last week, it was revealed that Sentebale’s founders, Prince Harry and Prince Seeiso of Lesotho, made what they termed a “heartbreaking” decision to resign in solidarity with the trustees, who deemed their relationship with Dr. Chandauka “untenable.”

During her Sunday interview, she accused Prince Harry of “harassment and bullying at scale”, though a source close to the charity’s board dismissed her claims as “categorically false” and “completely baseless.”

Sky News contacted Sentebale regarding the consultants’ engagements.

In addressing its collaboration with LEBEC, Sentebale stated: “In November 2023, we engaged LEBEC and its six consultants for strategic guidance on effectively entering the US market and enhancing credibility.

“Throughout a year-long engagement, LEBEC successfully accomplished all deliverables, including facilitating 65 crucial connections with potential strategic partners, connectors, advisory board members, and funders.

“This audience comprised high-net-worth individuals, family offices, corporations, foundations, and partner non-profits.”

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Sky News has been informed that Global Philanthropic was retained for a “strategy envisioning” initiative in Autumn 2023, led by Iain Rawlinson due to his familiarity with southern Africa. He was subsequently engaged from April 2024 onwards to consult on Sentebale’s transformation strategy and governance, based on an agreement made with the then-CEO Richard Miller.

Also noted among the payments was £41,451 for Sarah Essien, who previously collaborated with Dr. Chandauka at Morgan Stanley and biotechnology firm Nandi Life Sciences.

Dawn Whyte, previously associated with the Black British Business Awards founded by Dr. Chandauka, was reported to have received £26,110.

MM Media Consultant garnered £46,124, while an anonymous website consultant was compensated with £12,114.

Ms. Whyte declined to provide comments, and Ms. Essien did not respond to inquiries via email, messages, or phone calls.

On both sides, there have been allegations regarding who is to blame for the termination of a significant sponsorship with ISPS Handa. When asked for clarification, ISPS opted to say “no comment.”