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Kids Company leaders quizzed by MPs | |
(about 5 hours later) | |
Senior figures from collapsed charity Kids Company are facing questions from MPs about how it was run. | |
Founder Camila Batmanghelidjh and chairman of trustees Alan Yentob are being asked about its management and how taxpayers' money was used. | |
It comes a day after documents emerged showing concerns about the charity's management were raised in 2002. | |
The charity, which had provided support to vulnerable young people, says it disputed the claims at the time. | |
Follow live text and video updates of the hearing | |
What went wrong at Kids Company? | |
Ms Batmanghelidjh has repeatedly rejected claims of financial mismanagement at the charity. | Ms Batmanghelidjh has repeatedly rejected claims of financial mismanagement at the charity. |
Mr Yentob told the Public Administration Select Committee no figure over £5,000 could be spent without the decision being taken to the board and there were quarterly audits of how money was spent. | |
Ms Batmanghelidjh also insisted the charity was "intensely inspected". | |
Kids Company collapsed in August - just days after receiving a £3m grant from the Cabinet Office and in the midst of a police investigation. | |
The closure came after ministers said they wanted to recover the £3m grant - with officials saying they believed conditions attached to the use of the money had not been met. | The closure came after ministers said they wanted to recover the £3m grant - with officials saying they believed conditions attached to the use of the money had not been met. |
Documents seen by BBC Newsnight and BuzzFeed News show the Pilgrim Trust, a charity which disburses about £2m a year, wrote to the Charity Commission in 2002 to raise concerns about Kids Company. | Documents seen by BBC Newsnight and BuzzFeed News show the Pilgrim Trust, a charity which disburses about £2m a year, wrote to the Charity Commission in 2002 to raise concerns about Kids Company. |
In the letter, Pilgrim Trust director Georgina Naylor noted an "absence of financial acumen from the director of Kids Company". | In the letter, Pilgrim Trust director Georgina Naylor noted an "absence of financial acumen from the director of Kids Company". |
'Against the odds' | 'Against the odds' |
In 2006, another charity, New Philanthropy Capital, raised concerns in a private report sent only to Kids Company trustees. | In 2006, another charity, New Philanthropy Capital, raised concerns in a private report sent only to Kids Company trustees. |
It noted issues including "weak finances" and a "lack of any strategic planning". | It noted issues including "weak finances" and a "lack of any strategic planning". |
The letter added: "Although the organisation has survived for 10 years, it has many problems and its continued existence is a triumph against the odds, and a testament to its wealthy and influential donors." | The letter added: "Although the organisation has survived for 10 years, it has many problems and its continued existence is a triumph against the odds, and a testament to its wealthy and influential donors." |
The National Audit Office is investigating grants given to Kids Company, and the charity is also the subject of a statutory investigation by the Charity Commission and an inquiry by the Constitutional Affairs Committee. | The National Audit Office is investigating grants given to Kids Company, and the charity is also the subject of a statutory investigation by the Charity Commission and an inquiry by the Constitutional Affairs Committee. |
Kids Company, which has said "very few charities" have faced the level of scrutiny it has faced in recent years, cites a long list of "thorough and positive reports relating to Kids Company's beneficiaries, activities and value for money". | Kids Company, which has said "very few charities" have faced the level of scrutiny it has faced in recent years, cites a long list of "thorough and positive reports relating to Kids Company's beneficiaries, activities and value for money". |