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Kids Company closure: 'You drop the bomb and expect people to move on?' Kids Company closure: 'You drop the bomb and expect people to move on?'
(about 2 hours later)
Just before 7.30pm on Wednesday, a man emerged from Kids Company’s premises in Camberwell holding two laminated A4 sheets. Followed by a documentary filmmaker, he made his way across Kenbury Street to the gates to the charity’s second site. There he tied a notice to the metal grille. “Important notice,” it read, all in capitals. “Kids Company closed.”Just before 7.30pm on Wednesday, a man emerged from Kids Company’s premises in Camberwell holding two laminated A4 sheets. Followed by a documentary filmmaker, he made his way across Kenbury Street to the gates to the charity’s second site. There he tied a notice to the metal grille. “Important notice,” it read, all in capitals. “Kids Company closed.”
So came the quiet end to the saga which has engulfed Kids Company, the charity started 19 years ago by Camila Batmanghelidjh, which supporters say has done more to reach troubled inner-city children than any other.So came the quiet end to the saga which has engulfed Kids Company, the charity started 19 years ago by Camila Batmanghelidjh, which supporters say has done more to reach troubled inner-city children than any other.
Sharlene Reid, 27, had been standing across the road from the charity’s gates. She was one of a number of shell-shocked local residents who came by to see for themselves what had happened to the charity, which was seen as a crucial community resource.Sharlene Reid, 27, had been standing across the road from the charity’s gates. She was one of a number of shell-shocked local residents who came by to see for themselves what had happened to the charity, which was seen as a crucial community resource.
Reid said the street outside had earlier seen protests by parents and children who relied on the charity’s services. Staff, volunteers and service users leaving the premises for the last time had emerged in tears, she said.Reid said the street outside had earlier seen protests by parents and children who relied on the charity’s services. Staff, volunteers and service users leaving the premises for the last time had emerged in tears, she said.
“You just drop the bomb like that and expect people to just move on?” she said, following the government’s recent announcement that it would no longer fund Kids Company. “There’s people’s lives at stake here, as well as the children. What about them?“You just drop the bomb like that and expect people to just move on?” she said, following the government’s recent announcement that it would no longer fund Kids Company. “There’s people’s lives at stake here, as well as the children. What about them?
Related: The Guardian view on the fall of Kids Company: a social policy morality tale | EditorialRelated: The Guardian view on the fall of Kids Company: a social policy morality tale | Editorial
“We have to make the government hear us. We were protesting. It was not planned. We all came here because they said it was shutting down, to come and collect your things. My friend WhatsApped me this morning and I said, ‘It’s got that bad?’”“We have to make the government hear us. We were protesting. It was not planned. We all came here because they said it was shutting down, to come and collect your things. My friend WhatsApped me this morning and I said, ‘It’s got that bad?’”
A second woman, who declined to give her name but described Kids Company as like family, said: “[The government] have done it at a bad time. It’s [the summer holidays] now, the children are stuck at home with their parents. Some of those parents have got mental health problems.A second woman, who declined to give her name but described Kids Company as like family, said: “[The government] have done it at a bad time. It’s [the summer holidays] now, the children are stuck at home with their parents. Some of those parents have got mental health problems.
“I believe if Kids Company shuts down there’s going to be more crime. Children are going to go hungry and that’s what worries me. Couple of mums might get flipping sectioned.”“I believe if Kids Company shuts down there’s going to be more crime. Children are going to go hungry and that’s what worries me. Couple of mums might get flipping sectioned.”
Mark Chilvers, 47, a photographer, had mentored children at Kids Company and lived nearby. The area was on the border between two gangs’ turf and the charity had helped to cool hostility between youths, he said.Mark Chilvers, 47, a photographer, had mentored children at Kids Company and lived nearby. The area was on the border between two gangs’ turf and the charity had helped to cool hostility between youths, he said.
“[The children] found it a safe haven, where they could come to socialise and get all sorts of holistic support,” said Chilvers. “It was a really valuable environment for some members of the community that struggle the most. What really worries me is, whatever the outcome of the allegations, what’s going to replace it? What’s going to fill the gap, the void left by Kids Company?”“[The children] found it a safe haven, where they could come to socialise and get all sorts of holistic support,” said Chilvers. “It was a really valuable environment for some members of the community that struggle the most. What really worries me is, whatever the outcome of the allegations, what’s going to replace it? What’s going to fill the gap, the void left by Kids Company?”
Related: How Kids Company’s unconventional approach contributed to its downfall | Mary DejevskyRelated: How Kids Company’s unconventional approach contributed to its downfall | Mary Dejevsky
Reid had been supported by Kids Company herself when young and lately had volunteered there. She praised Batmanghelidjh, the charity’s charismatic and unconventional founder, who was forced to step down in a last-ditch effort to secure more funding.Reid had been supported by Kids Company herself when young and lately had volunteered there. She praised Batmanghelidjh, the charity’s charismatic and unconventional founder, who was forced to step down in a last-ditch effort to secure more funding.
“Camila has built this up from scratch and she doesn’t take, she just gives,” said Reid. “She’s a wonderful woman, all she does is go [to government] and ask for money to give to the vulnerable.”“Camila has built this up from scratch and she doesn’t take, she just gives,” said Reid. “She’s a wonderful woman, all she does is go [to government] and ask for money to give to the vulnerable.”
She added: “How are you going to tell a woman to step down like that? She has dedicated her life to these children. You can’t do this just because you make the laws and you have the upper hand. Their kids can sleep at night in a good bed with good food, and don’t have anything to worry about.”She added: “How are you going to tell a woman to step down like that? She has dedicated her life to these children. You can’t do this just because you make the laws and you have the upper hand. Their kids can sleep at night in a good bed with good food, and don’t have anything to worry about.”
Another demonstration was being planned for Friday, said Reid. Mothers are set to meet at the gates at 10am and march to Downing Street to make their feelings known to the prime minister.Another demonstration was being planned for Friday, said Reid. Mothers are set to meet at the gates at 10am and march to Downing Street to make their feelings known to the prime minister.
Mike Gee, safeguarding manager at Kids Company, was on hand to watch the notices put up. He called the end of the charity a travesty that had left many youngsters and their families with nowhere to turn.Mike Gee, safeguarding manager at Kids Company, was on hand to watch the notices put up. He called the end of the charity a travesty that had left many youngsters and their families with nowhere to turn.
Related: Will you be affected if Kids Company closes its services?Related: Will you be affected if Kids Company closes its services?
“It’s basically the end of, in our view, what was the best mechanism for supporting some of the most vulnerable children in south London,” said Gee. “The kids who came to this centre are some of the most vulnerable children I’ve seen in my career and I’ve been a social worker going on 12 years.“It’s basically the end of, in our view, what was the best mechanism for supporting some of the most vulnerable children in south London,” said Gee. “The kids who came to this centre are some of the most vulnerable children I’ve seen in my career and I’ve been a social worker going on 12 years.
“That word vulnerable, people don’t really know what it means. But the reality is I’m talking about 13-year-old girls who tried hanging themselves, 12-year-olds who instead of going home at night sleep under cars.“That word vulnerable, people don’t really know what it means. But the reality is I’m talking about 13-year-old girls who tried hanging themselves, 12-year-olds who instead of going home at night sleep under cars.
“The fact that this has come to an end is a disaster. As safeguarding manager, I’d like to issue a plea to my compatriots, my social workers, the directors of social services in Southwark and Lambeth and all social services departments in south London, to say these kids need you. They don’t need assessments or visits once a month, they need people who care about them.“The fact that this has come to an end is a disaster. As safeguarding manager, I’d like to issue a plea to my compatriots, my social workers, the directors of social services in Southwark and Lambeth and all social services departments in south London, to say these kids need you. They don’t need assessments or visits once a month, they need people who care about them.
Related: Kids Company closure: government 'knew £3m grant was to go to pay staff'
“The government in this country [doesn’t] understand how to work effectively with the most vulnerable children. This is an organisation that has been funded at the cost of £4m a year, frankly that’s nothing. Recently they have invested £30m in planting bushes on a bridge across the river Thames. That money could have safeguarded these children for seven years, so I hold them accountable.“The government in this country [doesn’t] understand how to work effectively with the most vulnerable children. This is an organisation that has been funded at the cost of £4m a year, frankly that’s nothing. Recently they have invested £30m in planting bushes on a bridge across the river Thames. That money could have safeguarded these children for seven years, so I hold them accountable.
“They sent Camila Batmanghelidjh a letter ... which says never again approach central government for funding. I call that a travesty: if it’s not the job of government to support these children, whose job is it?”“They sent Camila Batmanghelidjh a letter ... which says never again approach central government for funding. I call that a travesty: if it’s not the job of government to support these children, whose job is it?”