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| Camila Batmanghelidjh: government trying to discredit me | Camila Batmanghelidjh: government trying to discredit me |
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| The children’s charity boss Camila Batmanghelidjh has accused the government of briefing against her Kids Company after it emerged that she had been asked to step down in order to secure £3m in funding for the high-profile organisation. | The children’s charity boss Camila Batmanghelidjh has accused the government of briefing against her Kids Company after it emerged that she had been asked to step down in order to secure £3m in funding for the high-profile organisation. |
| The charity said Batmanghelidjh was prepared to step down to take on a new “advocacy, fundraising and clinical role” in order to secure the funding from the Cabinet Office that is necessary to keep it afloat. | The charity said Batmanghelidjh was prepared to step down to take on a new “advocacy, fundraising and clinical role” in order to secure the funding from the Cabinet Office that is necessary to keep it afloat. |
| But Batmanghelidjh complained in interviews that Whitehall sources were talking down the charity at a time when its funding situation had not been resolved. She told Radio 4: “This is briefing to avoid the real issues. The type of briefing they are now delivering is one in which they are attempting to discredit me, so my message is weakened. | But Batmanghelidjh complained in interviews that Whitehall sources were talking down the charity at a time when its funding situation had not been resolved. She told Radio 4: “This is briefing to avoid the real issues. The type of briefing they are now delivering is one in which they are attempting to discredit me, so my message is weakened. |
| Related: Kids Company row highlights dilemma of charities at the sharp end of austerity | Related: Kids Company row highlights dilemma of charities at the sharp end of austerity |
| “I pray to God it is not coming from David Cameron and his team. I still have to have faith he wants to do the right thing by children.” | “I pray to God it is not coming from David Cameron and his team. I still have to have faith he wants to do the right thing by children.” |
| Kid’s Company has been championed by Cameron as a model of dynamic social services provision. It argues that its services are unique and that it may struggle in future to meet the needs of the 16,000 children it supports in street drop-in centres and schools in London and Bristol. | Kid’s Company has been championed by Cameron as a model of dynamic social services provision. It argues that its services are unique and that it may struggle in future to meet the needs of the 16,000 children it supports in street drop-in centres and schools in London and Bristol. |
| But while saying that an “in principle” funding agreement was in place, those close to the charity said nothing had been signed and key conditions had not been met. A Kids Company spokesman said: “We are confident that we will reach an agreement; it is just we don’t have one at the moment.” | But while saying that an “in principle” funding agreement was in place, those close to the charity said nothing had been signed and key conditions had not been met. A Kids Company spokesman said: “We are confident that we will reach an agreement; it is just we don’t have one at the moment.” |
| Kids Company said it intended to reform itself. “In partnership with a city-based group of philanthropists, the charity is being supported by the new government to create a more sustainable organisation and funding structure that will be better able to tolerate unpredictable income streams in the future,” it said in a statement. | Kids Company said it intended to reform itself. “In partnership with a city-based group of philanthropists, the charity is being supported by the new government to create a more sustainable organisation and funding structure that will be better able to tolerate unpredictable income streams in the future,” it said in a statement. |
| Ministers and officials have been concerned over the instability of Kids Company. A former minister told the Guardian: “Where there has been frustration on both sides of the conversation is we had an unsatisfactory process where Camila would effectively come in and say ‘I’m about to fold if you don’t give me £5m. That happened on a regular basis and more often than not the hole was plugged. | Ministers and officials have been concerned over the instability of Kids Company. A former minister told the Guardian: “Where there has been frustration on both sides of the conversation is we had an unsatisfactory process where Camila would effectively come in and say ‘I’m about to fold if you don’t give me £5m. That happened on a regular basis and more often than not the hole was plugged. |
| “There is a recognition in governments of all colours that what Kids Company do is extremely valuable and they reach parts of the statutory [social care] system that other parts do not seem to. But the charity keeps growing and there’s been no retrenchment. She [Camila] cannot say no. She’s not equipped to downsize an organisation, while other charities have trimmed their sails in the wind. | “There is a recognition in governments of all colours that what Kids Company do is extremely valuable and they reach parts of the statutory [social care] system that other parts do not seem to. But the charity keeps growing and there’s been no retrenchment. She [Camila] cannot say no. She’s not equipped to downsize an organisation, while other charities have trimmed their sails in the wind. |
| Related: Camila Batmanghelidjh surprised troubled kids with love | Libby Brooks | |
| “It’s possible that the model is unaffordable at scale. She’s running something rather amazing. But it is difficult to replicate at scale and run in a way that’s accountable for public money.” | “It’s possible that the model is unaffordable at scale. She’s running something rather amazing. But it is difficult to replicate at scale and run in a way that’s accountable for public money.” |
| Kids Company hit back at suggestions that it was poorly managed and its effectiveness could not be demonstrated, pointing to research by the London School of Economics, Cambridge University and the Tavistock and Portman NHS trust which recognised the impact of its work. “The success of Kids Company as measured by the young lives that have been transformed and in many instances, saved, is beyond question,” it said. | Kids Company hit back at suggestions that it was poorly managed and its effectiveness could not be demonstrated, pointing to research by the London School of Economics, Cambridge University and the Tavistock and Portman NHS trust which recognised the impact of its work. “The success of Kids Company as measured by the young lives that have been transformed and in many instances, saved, is beyond question,” it said. |
| The charity said it had struggled financially because philanthropic and public donations had shrunk at a time when it had to meet the practical and emotional needs of an increasing number of high-risk vulnerable children who are not being supported by the statutory system. | The charity said it had struggled financially because philanthropic and public donations had shrunk at a time when it had to meet the practical and emotional needs of an increasing number of high-risk vulnerable children who are not being supported by the statutory system. |
| A senior children’s charity chief executive said that although Batmanghelidjh could “rub people up the wrong way”, her organisation offered a much-needed service. “It [Kids Company] is a touchy-feely service. Camila throws caution to the wind. There is a growing need for the type of work that they do. They are reaching children that the statutory services cannot and saving children who would otherwise be failed.” | A senior children’s charity chief executive said that although Batmanghelidjh could “rub people up the wrong way”, her organisation offered a much-needed service. “It [Kids Company] is a touchy-feely service. Camila throws caution to the wind. There is a growing need for the type of work that they do. They are reaching children that the statutory services cannot and saving children who would otherwise be failed.” |
| But another charity boss said Kids Company was seen by some other children’s organisations as uncollegiate in receipt of special privileges. “In general, the rest of the sector have found Kids Company to be pretty idiosyncratic,” they said. | But another charity boss said Kids Company was seen by some other children’s organisations as uncollegiate in receipt of special privileges. “In general, the rest of the sector have found Kids Company to be pretty idiosyncratic,” they said. |
| Cameron’s official spokeswoman denied that Downing Street had been involved in any negative briefing about Batmanghelidjh. The spokeswoman said: “The government’s priority is to do all it can to make sure every child has the best start in life. As part of that the Cabinet Office has been working to continue to support Kids Company during the difficult situation that they face. | Cameron’s official spokeswoman denied that Downing Street had been involved in any negative briefing about Batmanghelidjh. The spokeswoman said: “The government’s priority is to do all it can to make sure every child has the best start in life. As part of that the Cabinet Office has been working to continue to support Kids Company during the difficult situation that they face. |
| “As part of ensuring that that work is put on a sustainable footing, they [the Cabinet Office] have requested changes to [the charity’s] management structure, which is in the best interests of the charity. I think that reflects the fact that we recognise the important work that they do and the government’s commitment to helping to support children.” | “As part of ensuring that that work is put on a sustainable footing, they [the Cabinet Office] have requested changes to [the charity’s] management structure, which is in the best interests of the charity. I think that reflects the fact that we recognise the important work that they do and the government’s commitment to helping to support children.” |