Kids Club - Camilla Batmanghelijdjh

I think that she made two classic mistakes.

One was that she was not choosing/caring to keep too close an eye on all aspects of what was going on.

And two. That she thought that the money would just keep on rolling in from the Government.

Some donors withdrew funding after allegations of abuse were reported. This meant some of the government's (our!) £3m had to go on salaries. This was not what the govt funding was for so KC were in breach of their conditions. Anyone who's been involved in voluntary or charity works knows this kind of thing can happen if the project gets too big for the founder to run under his or her personal control.

A lot went on unpaid salary - the government was told by the charity before it received the 3 million.

I think the truth is that no-one comes out of this exactly covered in glory.

The government behaved idiotically and its policies of more and more cuts to local govern!ment child services meant more and more pressure on all childrens charities.

I frequently dealt with various charities when working and it was often clear that good housekeeping and accountancy was not their strongest point.

[Shock]

I want to be told exactly what the £3million was spent on in one week??
That should answer all the questions surely?

Just seen the woman on the news.

I think she ate all the money.

So you're saying that Harriet Sergeant's article should be disregarded/taken with a pinch of salt just because she's involved with the Centre for Policy for Studies, Penstemmon? As I understand it, she had been following the progress of Kids Co. for several years and has many first hand accounts and statements from people and children involved with the organisation.

CB herself has admitted that young people were given money in envelopes 'because middle-class parents give their children hand-outs and pocket money'.

I do think the enterprise started out with the very best of intentions and did a lot of good work, but something went terribly wrong.

I do think that there has been some really excellent work done by Kids Co. The organisations that another poster mentioned were not working with the youngsters that kids Co did. These are young people on the very edge.

I also think that the article written by a journalist who is a key player in the right wing organisation Centre for Policy Studies so not exactly coming at this from a neutral position.

CB is a big personality and I suspect people like her gain as many enemies as friends.

I am sorry that a charity that had such good intentions appears to have got itself into a difficult situation. It is far better to play by all the accountability rules and be open about processes etc. so that you are not put into a vulnerable position. I truly hope that most of the allegations are found not to be true but sadly terrible things can happen even when the original principles were admirable.

Thu 06-Aug-15 19:08:37
I agree HildaW - to the tune of £38 million I believe, and Cameron would hardly have been such a great admirer if she was an embarrassment to the Government!

So is ther any chance of the 3 million handed over last week being recovered now the charity is no longer functioning

tinaf1 I read somewhere that the money was urgently needed to pay the salaries of people employed by KC as there was nothing in the coffers and the government came forward with the money for that reason.

I think KC started out with the very best of intentions but became too large too quickly, unwieldy and cash-rich from donations. It seemed to have lost its sense of true purpose and direction.

The 'authorities' tried but failed to stop C when she first started, I guess because she was an embarrassment to those who should have been caring for such vulnerable kids.
BRedhead59 I heard an interview she gave many years ago and remember that the original purpose was to provide somewhere safe and warm where children could go to be fed - these were children from families who were 'under the radar' so to speak - I do remember it because it was Christmas time and she said they had children walking through the streets on Christmas Day who come for somewhere warm to go for Christmas dinner.

Accountability and transparency. On channel 4 news this evening we were shown an email to Kids company from Micheal Gove praising their work and commenting on their audit report.
This was sent in May this year.

I worry that one line of 'defence' used is that this lady had 'caused embarrassment to the 'authorities' and that's why she is being investigated.

She has been befriended and supported by successive Prime Ministers - so hardly out of favour by powers that be.

Ester Rantzen asked a lot of awkward questions when she set up her Child Line...yet she did not become a subject of suspicion.

Its all about accountability and transparency - without it the best causes will come unstuck.

As someone who has also spent 30+ years working with similar young people as CB and because I have heard her speak twice and met her once I feel I must speak out:-
It is very important not to believe all you read in the press or hear on the news.
The 'authorities' tried but failed to stop C when she first started, I guess because she was an embarrassment to those who should have been caring for such vulnerable kids.
C is very outspoken and very experienced in this work so she continues to embarrass.
Her own life story is fascinating as is her professional development. She has written interesting books about both.
I don't really know her and she may have made mistakes - don't we all?
I guess the kids in London and Liverpool are worse off without her.
Finally -To comment on her dress sense is judgmental, irrelevant and could be considered racist.

Central to the problem is the withering away of youth services. I ran an arts outreach programme in conjunction with a youth service - I was funded by the Arts Council, but worked very closely with the LA youth service. Even at that time, some 15 years ago, the youth service was being cut to the bone, and I understand that it is now virtually non-existent. Properly funded youth centres with properly trained youth workers are what is needed - but how do you get the government to understand the importance of prevention in this and other areas? Crisis management is all that is left - it is very short-sighted.

No probs Jane.

Ok sorry nankate

Jane you have got me wrong I wasn't 'taking a pop' at the USA I just feel that over the top celebrities seem to go down well there such as Lady Gaga, Madonna, the late Joan Rivers, Little Richard, Michael Jackson.

I can see her appearing on Oprah Winfrey and they would like her style of delivery.

I have no personal feelings about CB either for or against.

So is ther any chance of the 3 million handed over last week being recovered now the charity is no longer functioning

It will be interesting to see how many of the showbiz personalities and politicians who've been keen to be photographed at Kids Company over the years come out in support of Camilla B.

I did hear Boris Johnson yesterday say that he's an admirer - so good for him for being loyal.

For those who say they've long had concerns about CB & KC would you care to elaborate why? Other than the recent allegations I've never heard rumblings or complaints over the past 20 years.

Apparently, 163million pounds had been raised for this charity independently. From watching VD this morning Camilla was well thought of by her service users. It does seem that a lot of children have chaotic lives for many different reasons. Sometimes wonder where the responsibility should lie. Seems the Accounts were audited over the past years and no discrepancies brought to light.

While we're on the subject of taking a pop, why do so many people on GN find it necessary to have a pop at the USA at every opportunity?

Why do you think CB would go down well in the US exactly, Nankate?

pamelagoldbergblog.blogspot.co.uk/2015/08/charisma-passion-and-dedication-dont.html?m=1

Interesting blog explaining why charisma isn't enough.

Harriet Sergeant wrote both the Telegraph article and the Mail article and I think has written a book about KC.
That's not a pop at either Telegraph or Mail readers

Did anyone see Alan Yentob walking away and refusing to talk to journalists on TV? Apparently as chairman he had halted Newsnight enquiries into Kids Company. I have a certain amount of sympathy with CB we all know of charismatic people who are innovators but don't look at the day to day running, or practicalities, but Mr Yentob should certainly have known better.

I have just read the article Absent and agree it is a well balanced review of Kids Company. It would be interesting to hear from some of her ex staff.

I wonder what CB will do next, I can't imagine she will hide away. I can't find much about her background other than she went to Public School and is Iranian.

She might go down well in the USA.

As a free-lancer myself, sometimes the journalist integrity of DM writers leaves a lot to be desired. I was merely stating that Harriet Sergeant's article was, in my opinion, well written. . And no,I am not Harriet Sergeant.