– The grants we give must not be used for expensive design furniture and advertising for handball teams, says divisional director Sissel Husøy in the Directorate of Health. news revealed on Saturday that the Association for Child Palliation (FFB) has bought designer furniture for their own private apartment for close to one million kroner. They have also spent more than NOK 14 million on advertising, PR consultants, marketing and information work. This is for a period of two years. Among other things, the association has sponsored the Vipers handball team with at least NOK 340,000. This with money they have received for Andreas Hus, a center for seriously ill and dying children. – It is very unfortunate. We ourselves have reacted to the spending of money in Andrea’s house and we have informed them of that, also verbally, says Husøy. Founder Natasha Pedersen reacts to news’s portrayal of the use of money, and emphasizes that the biggest costs for the association have been linked to the building project, recruitment, education, research and activities for employees and relatives. To examine the use of money In the last three years, the association has received more than NOK 90 million from the Norwegian Directorate of Health. They have submitted annual accounts for control, and have had these approved. – The scheme is largely based on trust, says Husøy, who also adds that the directorate has increased control in recent years. For several months, news has investigated how the association has used the money it has received, and has been in contact with the Directorate of Health a number of times. At the end of September, the directorate sent a letter in which they notified the association that they will carry out what is called a local inspection. This means, among other things, that accounting documents will be reviewed. The inspection will be carried out in mid-November. news has previously requested access to such documents, but was refused. news’s attempt to get access to accounting documents news has asked the Norwegian Directorate of Health for access to specific documents from the Association for Child Palliation, but has been refused. It is justified by the fact that the directorate has not needed to obtain these from the association, and that they are not public either. We have also asked the association to inspect the accounting documents. They have not wanted to publish these, nor are they subject to the Public Disclosure Act. The amounts presented in this case are therefore a minimum. news does not have a full overview of everything the association has spent money on. Pedersen says that issuing the vouchers requires a very big job, in the middle of the opening of Andreas Hus. She adds that the association does not prioritize this work because she experiences news’s article as a “black matter”. Andreas Hus in Kristiansand is scheduled to open its doors in January next year for seriously ill and dying children and their families. Photo: John-Andre Samuelsen / news PR consultants and advertising Every year, the association has received around NOK 30 million. news’s disclosure shows that a large proportion of these have gone to advertising, PR consultants, marketing and information work. A total of 14 million over two years. The figure is based on the annual accounts that they have submitted to the Directorate of Health. On news Debatten earlier this week, Natasha Pedersen stated that they were completely dependent on the state continuing to give them NOK 30 million annually in order for them to be able to run the centre. The statement came in connection with the proposed state budget, in which Pedersen and the association lose the earmarked funds for Andreas Hus. On Tuesday, Pedersen criticized the government, which has now proposed removing the earmarked funds for Andreas Hus. Pedersen tells news that the spending is being portrayed in the wrong way. – We use every penny to make it a little better and easier for families and relatives in an unimaginable situation. Andreas Hus is scheduled to open its doors in January. The center has room for four children, and a total of 24 guests. – There is no personal gain in what we do, it is about trying to improve the system I encountered when my own daughter died, says Pedersen.
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– The money must not be spent on expensive designer furniture – news Sørlandet – Local news, TV and radio
