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Kids Company received more than 250 items of furniture from BBC clearout Kids Company received more than 250 items of furniture from BBC clearout
(35 minutes later)
Kids Company has emerged as the biggest beneficiary of furniture from a clearout of part of BBC Television Centre, snapping up more than 250 items including everything from the offices of children’s news programme Newsround.Kids Company has emerged as the biggest beneficiary of furniture from a clearout of part of BBC Television Centre, snapping up more than 250 items including everything from the offices of children’s news programme Newsround.
The controversial and now defunct charity, of which BBC creative director Alan Yentob was chairman, received more than 60% of the more than 400 items of furniture that were donated to charities following a clearout of the east tower and drama building at BBC Television Centre ahead of redevelopment.The controversial and now defunct charity, of which BBC creative director Alan Yentob was chairman, received more than 60% of the more than 400 items of furniture that were donated to charities following a clearout of the east tower and drama building at BBC Television Centre ahead of redevelopment.
Clearance Solutions, which specialises in getting further use from items by selling or donating them, won the tender to undertake the clearance of that portion of BBC Television Centre in about 2011.Clearance Solutions, which specialises in getting further use from items by selling or donating them, won the tender to undertake the clearance of that portion of BBC Television Centre in about 2011.
The BBC was not involved in choosing where the items went.
The company sent out an email newsletter promoting the work, in which Kids Company was singled out as the biggest winner.The company sent out an email newsletter promoting the work, in which Kids Company was singled out as the biggest winner.
“The BBC was keen to ensure good causes such as charities benefitted by receiving furniture donations,” said the company in an email newsletter seen by the Guardian. “We managed to donate a considerable amount to charity, with the largest single reciprocant being Kids Company. Kids Company received over 250 items of furniture, including all the furniture from the Newsround offices. Overall charities were donated over 400 items.”“The BBC was keen to ensure good causes such as charities benefitted by receiving furniture donations,” said the company in an email newsletter seen by the Guardian. “We managed to donate a considerable amount to charity, with the largest single reciprocant being Kids Company. Kids Company received over 250 items of furniture, including all the furniture from the Newsround offices. Overall charities were donated over 400 items.”
The newsletter contains a testimonial quote from the charity’s former chief executive, Camila Batmanjhelidjh, thanking the “lovely people at the BBC for all the furniture you delivered to us”.The newsletter contains a testimonial quote from the charity’s former chief executive, Camila Batmanjhelidjh, thanking the “lovely people at the BBC for all the furniture you delivered to us”.
She added at the time that the charity, whose recent closure followed “serious concerns” being raised about its finances, that it had “struggled to be able to afford even basic furniture until now”.She added at the time that the charity, whose recent closure followed “serious concerns” being raised about its finances, that it had “struggled to be able to afford even basic furniture until now”.
Rufus Hirsch, the founder of Clearance Solutions, said that the BBC did not exercise any influence over which charities received furniture and that Kids Company had been a partner since 2009, several years before the one-off BBC contract was won.Rufus Hirsch, the founder of Clearance Solutions, said that the BBC did not exercise any influence over which charities received furniture and that Kids Company had been a partner since 2009, several years before the one-off BBC contract was won.
Hirsch said that the contract was won through Johnson Controls, which then handled the BBC’s facilities management services, and there had not been “direct contact” with any senior officials at the corporation. Hirsch said the contract was won through Johnson Controls, which then handled the BBC’s facilities management services, and there had not been “direct contact” with any senior officials at the corporation.
He added that one reason why Kids Company got so much of the furniture was that it had proved extremely difficult to find a home for the Newsround items.He added that one reason why Kids Company got so much of the furniture was that it had proved extremely difficult to find a home for the Newsround items.
“The Newsround furniture was all different multicoloured stuff which was impossible to give to anyone,” he said. “Kids Company were like the only place on earth where it had a chance of being reused. It was quite a result. First you try and sell it. It was too old and no one wanted to buy it. Then you try and donate it. But no one wants a mauve couch next to an orange chair and a green desk.”“The Newsround furniture was all different multicoloured stuff which was impossible to give to anyone,” he said. “Kids Company were like the only place on earth where it had a chance of being reused. It was quite a result. First you try and sell it. It was too old and no one wanted to buy it. Then you try and donate it. But no one wants a mauve couch next to an orange chair and a green desk.”
A BBC spokesman said: “The BBC had absolutely no involvement in this contract.”A BBC spokesman said: “The BBC had absolutely no involvement in this contract.”
Earlier this month, Yentob announced he would stand down from his senior management role at the BBC, saying that the media coverage of the Kids Company scandal had become a “serious distraction”.Earlier this month, Yentob announced he would stand down from his senior management role at the BBC, saying that the media coverage of the Kids Company scandal had become a “serious distraction”.
Yentob has been accused of a conflict of interest after making a phone call to Newsnight before a report on Kids Company, as well as accompanying Batmanghelidjh to an interview on Radio 4’s Today programme.Yentob has been accused of a conflict of interest after making a phone call to Newsnight before a report on Kids Company, as well as accompanying Batmanghelidjh to an interview on Radio 4’s Today programme.
The corporation has said it does not believe that Yentob abused his position by influencing the BBC’s news coverage of the charity.The corporation has said it does not believe that Yentob abused his position by influencing the BBC’s news coverage of the charity.
The BBC Trust, the corporation’s governing body, has said it would not launch an investigation into the allegations.The BBC Trust, the corporation’s governing body, has said it would not launch an investigation into the allegations.
The trust said it had listened to the specific programmes Yentob is accused of attempting to influence and found no evidence that the output had been affected.The trust said it had listened to the specific programmes Yentob is accused of attempting to influence and found no evidence that the output had been affected.
In addition, the trust said that now Yentob has stood down it would “not be proportionate, appropriate or cost effective” to launch an investigation.In addition, the trust said that now Yentob has stood down it would “not be proportionate, appropriate or cost effective” to launch an investigation.