The chief executive and founder of the troubled Kiltwalk charity has quit, TFN can exclusively reveal
The chief executive and founder of the troubled Kiltwalk charity has quit, TFN can exclusively reveal.
Carey McEvoy is to leave the organisation which has come under fire in recent weeks over how it allocates funds.
Several household name charities have withdrawn their backing from the fundraiser and calls were made for it to be investigated by Scotland’s charity regulator.
A statement issued exclusively to TFN this afternoon (Thursday, 12 March) revealed that McEvoy will vacate his £70,000 a year post as part of a restructure – and other jobs could be in the line.
We need to fully restore confidence amongst fellow charities, partners and walkers and I believe fresh leadership can help to achieve that aim
Carey McEvoy
It reads: “In order to protect the organisation, the board is working on a programme to restructure in order to cut overheads.
“Certain aspects of the events will need to be scaled back, but centralised costs – including staff – will also be impacted.
“The restructure will affect all levels of the charity and unfortunately Kiltwalk CEO Carey McEvoy will be departing from the organisation.
“Carey founded the charity and helped it grow to an organisation which raises considerable sums for charitable causes in Scotland.
“Carey is very proud of what the charity has achieved but feels that the time is right for a change to be made and for him to step aside to enable the charity to move forward into the future."
McEvoy himself added: “The last month has been very difficult for the whole team, with four charities withdrawing as partners followed by several stories in the press which is having a big impact on our 2015 events.
“However, the charities leaving and the resulting media coverage has happened on my watch. We need to fully restore confidence amongst fellow charities, partners and walkers and I believe fresh leadership of The Kiltwalk can help to achieve that aim.
“Personally, I am hugely disappointed that these recent developments are likely to contribute to some of the team losing their jobs. They are incredibly dedicated and passionate about The Kiltwalk and helping Scotland’s children.
“We have come a long way in the last three years and I would like to stress we are incredibly proud of our achievements so far. Whilst this has been a difficult period, I am certain the team and Kiltwalk supporters will do everything possible to secure the future for the organisation.”
Despite the restructure, the charity says planned Kiltwalk events will still go ahead.
Head of marketing and fundraising Mhairi Pearson said: “Over the coming months we are refocusing on the core of what makes The Kiltwalk special – the walkers and the thousands of children we support every year.
“We hope this is the beginning of a wonderful future organising fantastic events as a way of raising crucial funds for those charities doing extraordinary work for Scotland’s children.
“In order to do this we need the support of the third sector so The Kiltwalk can be a unique, fundraising platform designed to help charities of all sizes.”
McEvoy had been chief executive of the charity since it was formed in 2011 out of the original Kiltwalk event created in 2010 by the Tartan Army Children’s Charity (TACC).
He had been chairman of TACC when it originally came up with the idea of the fundraising event.
The board however decided to allow the event to be re-launched as a separate entity deeming it would be able to raise more money and help more children’s charities out with the confines of TACC.
Since then it has grown from 400 walkers at one event to over 12,000 in 2014 at walks in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Speyside and Dundee.
