Call for probe into crisis-hit Kiltwalk

CHARITY regulators have been urged to conduct an urgent investigation into the Kiltwalk after a row over the event’s running costs.

Ally Hunter, a former trustee of the organisation that launched the original walk in 2010, said he has serious concerns about the amount of money actually making its way to the good causes meant to benefit.

The Fife councillor, who lives in Leven, is the former chairman of the Tartan Army Children’s Charity, which announced last week it was scrapping its involvement with Kiltwalk.

CLIC Sargent, Cash for Kids, Aberlour and the Edinburgh’s Sick Kids Friends Foundation have also severed ties with the event.

It has since been revealed that just £783,000 from a total income of £1.6 million was passed on to the charities in 2013.

Mr Hunter said Kiltwalk had grown from 1,500 walkers in 2012 to 12,000 walkers just two years later.

“We are all volunteers so felt we couldn’t give it the time it needed to make it better,” he said.

“TACC agonised over what to do because we could see the potential it had but eventually we agreed we would remain one of the main charity partners and would have a member on the board of trustees.”

However, TACC severed all ties earlier this year when it was given a cheque for £50,000 rather than the £100,000 it was expecting.

“Every single penny should go to the kids, not to run a charity as a business,” Mr Hunter said.

“I feel really let down that hundreds of thousands of pounds that should be going to help disadvantaged kids in Scotland isn’t.

“I’d like the charity regulators to look into why so little money is going to good causes.”