Diana fund distributes pounds 13m to her favourite charities
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Your support makes all the difference.MORE THAN 100 charities covering everything from the arts to Aids yesterday received money in the first round of grants from the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fund.
A total of pounds 13m was distributed to the princess's favourite charities. Six - Centrepoint, the English National Ballet, the Great Ormond Street Hospital Children's Charity, the Leprosy Mission, the National Aids Trust and the Royal Marsden NHS Trust - of which the princess was patron or president at the time of her death, received pounds 1m each.
Another pounds 1m was distributed to groups dealing with people affected by landmines and a similar amount was given to the Osteopathic Centre for Children in recognition of the fact that the princess was due to have launched its Sweet Pea Appeal next September. The remaining charities - more than 100 - shared pounds 5m.
Last night, the way in which the money was awarded immediately caused controversy. Criticism was made by the Parkinson's Disease Society, which had the late princess as its patron until July 1996. Barry Brooking, chief executive, said his charity would be applying for funds - but questioned the distribution of the cash.
"The PDS fully understands the emphasis given to the six causes which Diana supported up until the time of her death, and the attention given to the landmines issues and the Sweet Pea Appeal," he said.
"We are, however, a little surprised that pounds 8m has been allocated to just eight causes whereas pounds 5m will be shared among 100 more."
Organisations have been asked to submit applications for grants under the criteria "vulnerable young people", "children", "socially excluded" and "survivors". Decisions on the amounts for each charity will be announced early in the summer.
The trustees have also disclosed that they are giving "sympathetic consideration" to Park House, the late princess's home on the Sandringham Estate, and West Heath, her former school in Kent. Park House is run by the Leonard Cheshire Foundation as a hotel for disabled people and their carers while West Heath may become a centre for traumatised young people.
Christopher Spence, chairman of the trust's grants committee, said of the allocation of funds: "Careful consideration has been given by the board of trustees to our first disbursement and we are confident in the selection and size of these grants."
n More than 250,000 Princess Diana scratchcards were sold yesterday when they went on sale for the first time, it was reported last night. Littlewoods said there had been a fantastic response to the scheme.
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