Investigation Dispels Assertions of Harassment in Prince Harry's Charity, Amidst Questions of Management Practices
Sentebale Undergoes Governance Overhaul Following Investigation
Sentebale, a charity co-founded by Prince Harry that aims to assist vulnerable youths in southern Africa, has been called upon to improve its management following an investigation by the Charity Commission. The investigation was prompted by allegations of misconduct within the organization.
The turbulent period at Sentebale was marked by a major boardroom dispute, which led to the resignation of Prince Harry and several trustees earlier this year. This dispute was accompanied by a "strong perception of ill treatment" expressed by multiple stakeholders.
The Charity Commission has criticized all parties involved for allowing the internal conflict to escalate publicly, damaging Sentebale's reputation. However, the Commission has concluded its investigation, finding no substantial evidence of widespread bullying and harassment.
In response to the findings, Sentebale has been recommended to implement a Regulatory Action Plan to address various governance weaknesses. The plan aims to prevent future governance struggles by focusing on clarifying role descriptions and internal governance policies, establishing formal dispute resolution mechanisms, and improving trustees’ governance oversight.
The Commission emphasized that failures by trustees to resolve disputes internally seriously undermined trust in the charity sector more broadly. Sentebale's current leadership, led by Sophie Chandauka, has publicly welcomed the Commission’s conclusions and is committed to becoming more stable and focused moving forward.
The importance of effective governance and clear role definitions within the charity has been underscored, particularly regarding new fundraising strategies. David Holdsworth, the CEO of the Charity Commission, emphasized the need for charity leaders to prioritize the beneficiaries and the positive impact the charity can have on their lives.
Prince Harry has expressed his intention to continue supporting Sentebale's mission in alternative ways, despite his resignation. Chandauka has affirmed the charity's commitment to moving forward and addressing issues brought to light by the Commission.
The Charity Commission's recommendations for Sentebale to address governance weaknesses focus on implementing a Regulatory Action Plan that resolves issues related to unclear role descriptions and weak internal policies. These problems contributed to management confusion, which escalated tensions and led to a damaging internal dispute with multiple trustee resignations and the departure of founding patrons.
Sentebale's mission is to provide support to vulnerable youths in southern Africa, and it is hoped that these changes will ensure the organization can effectively serve the communities it was designed to assist.
[1] Charity Commission for England and Wales (2022). Regulatory action plan for Sentebale. Retrieved from https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/sentebale-regulatory-action-plan
[2] Sentebale (2022). Sentebale welcomes Charity Commission conclusions. Retrieved from https://www.sentebale.org/news/sentebale-welcomes-charity-commission-conclusions
[3] Charity Commission for England and Wales (2022). Sentebale: Charity Commission concludes investigation. Retrieved from https://www.gov.uk/government/news/sentebale-charity-commission-concludes-investigation
- To ensure the effectiveness of its financial management and business operations, Sentebale is implementing a Regulatory Action Plan recommended by the Charity Commission, which primarily focusing on resolving issues related to unclear role descriptions and weak internal policies.
- Sentebale's commitment to addressing its governance weaknesses goes beyond improving its internal policies and management, aiming to prioritize the beneficiaries and the positive impact the charity can have on their lives, as emphasized by David Holdsworth, the CEO of the Charity Commission.
