– We cannot distribute money to organizations without a board, says department director for grants in the Directorate of Health Elise Husum. On Saturday, it was announced that the board of the Association for Child Palliative Care (FFB) is resigning. The only person left is founder and general secretary Natasha Pedersen. In a press release, it is stated that FFB will nevertheless seek government funding to be able to run Andrea’s house, which is a center for seriously ill and dying children in Kristiansand. – Not lucky for the opportunity to get support That the board resigns is unfortunate, believes the Directorate of Health, which is sitting on the money the association will apply for. – Recent events are not lucky for their chances of getting support, I think. And that is one reason why we have launched an investigation into the association, says Husum. news has previously reported that the Directorate of Health has reacted to the spending of money in connection with Andrea’s house, and that FFB will be investigated. The authorities have requested board minutes, salary agreements, vouchers and account statements. The report should be ready at the end of November. – We do not want to prejudge anyone. The report is important to give us an answer as to whether it is safe to give money to Andreas Hus, says Husum. – A board must be in place FFB must now apply for a state grant scheme of approx. NOK 53 million. More people will apply for it. The deadline expires on December 11. – The board must be in place for us to make a decision, says Husum. Andreas Hus was to open its doors to seriously ill children and their families in January. At the end of October, the board announced that the center was closing down. It happened after the fixed subsidy of NOK 30 million a year was removed in the government’s proposal for the state budget. The Norwegian Directorate of Health and auditors from PwC recently inspected Andreas Hus in Kristiansand. Here with secretary general of the Association for Children’s Palliative Care (FFB), Natasha Pedersen (in red). Photo: JOHN-ANDRE SAMUELSEN / news Unfortunate double roles Mayor of Kristiansand, Jan Oddvar Skisland, had hoped that the board of FFB would sit through the investigation. – I think they are dependent on having an active board and good relations with the healthcare system. Skisland is critical of Natasha Pedersen having several roles in the association. She is general secretary and founder, as well as a board member. – Basically, it is not a good dual role for Pedersen to be both board member and general secretary, says the mayor. Natasha Pedersen will not comment on the statements from the Directorate of Health or the mayor. In an SMS to news, she refers to the press release that was sent out in connection with the board resigning. Kristiansand municipality owns the Andreas Hus building. FFB pays rent. Kristiansand municipality owns the Andreas Hus building. Mayor Jan Oddvar Skisland wants to continue renting to them. Photo: Per-Kåre Sandbakk / news Working hard for a new board The nomination committee, which will assemble a new board, will hold an extraordinary general meeting on 11 December. Lisbeth Andersen is said to have resigned as chairman earlier this week. In a press release, she writes that the board makes its seats available. Chairman of the election committee, Jan Willy Føreland, assures that the search for a new board is underway. – Getting a board that has trust, also in the Directorate, is very important to us, says Føreland. The committee had a meeting at the weekend, after the ordinary board resigned. – We need people who can take the organization forward in a demanding financial situation. So these should be people who are strong in finance, says Føreland.
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Without a board in the Association for Children’s Palliation, Andrea’s house does not receive state support – news Sørlandet – Local news, TV and radio
