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Kids Company a political 'football' Kids Company a political 'football'
(about 1 hour later)
Kids Company has become "a football for the media and the civil servants", the charity's founder has said.Kids Company has become "a football for the media and the civil servants", the charity's founder has said.
Camila Batmanghelidjh told the BBC the charity had run out of money because the government had not taken responsibility for child protection.Camila Batmanghelidjh told the BBC the charity had run out of money because the government had not taken responsibility for child protection.
Kids Company closed on Wednesday after ministers said they wanted to recover a £3m grant given to the charity.Kids Company closed on Wednesday after ministers said they wanted to recover a £3m grant given to the charity.
The Cabinet Office said it believed conditions attached to the use of the money had not been met.The Cabinet Office said it believed conditions attached to the use of the money had not been met.
Ms Batmanghelidjh told BBC Radio 4's Today programme Kids Company had been subjected to a "trial by media" based on "rumours and conjectures". Concerns have previously been raised by government officials about the the charity's financial management and its ability to run itself.
But Ms Batmanghelidjh told BBC Radio 4's Today programme Kids Company had been subjected to a "trial by media" based on "rumours and conjectures".
She said reasons for the charity closing included:She said reasons for the charity closing included:
Ms Batmanghelidjh said there was "no basis" to the allegation being investigated by police.Ms Batmanghelidjh said there was "no basis" to the allegation being investigated by police.
What did Kids Company do?What did Kids Company do?
It provided services including counselling, walk-in centres with hot meals and help with housing and healthcare for children and young people whose parents were often unable to care for them.It provided services including counselling, walk-in centres with hot meals and help with housing and healthcare for children and young people whose parents were often unable to care for them.
It had branches in London, Bristol and Liverpool, employed 650 people.It had branches in London, Bristol and Liverpool, employed 650 people.
How did the controversy start? What went wrong at Kids Company?
"It feels like we've lost a parent"."It feels like we've lost a parent".
'Hand to mouth' Ms Batmanghelidjh said there had been a "malicious discrediting campaign" which had affected Kids Company's ability to raise money.
While parts of the government supported the charity, others wanted it to "disappear off the patch", she said.
The government released £3m to Kids Company last week after Ms Batmanghelidjh confirmed she would step aside and take on a new advocacy and clinical role.The government released £3m to Kids Company last week after Ms Batmanghelidjh confirmed she would step aside and take on a new advocacy and clinical role.
But now the Cabinet Office is making plans to recover the grant because it believes the conditions attached to the use of the money were not met. The grant had been intended for a "transformation and downsizing plan", but the BBC understands £800,000 was used to pay wages.
The £3m grant had been intended for a "transformation and downsizing plan" that would support the charity as it reformed itself, but the BBC understands £800,000 of the money was used to pay its monthly wage bill. Asked if Kids Company's finances could have been run better, Ms Batmanghelidjh said it had struggled due to lack of funding rather than mismanagement.
Ms Batmanghelidjh said parts of the government and civil service wanted Kids Company to "disappear off the patch".
She denied she was responsible for the charity closing.
But she said: "I failed because I didn't raise enough money because there isn't money out there to raise. That is where I failed, and I raised the alarm about it.
"This government is being so disingenuous because what are all these cases doing at our door when they should be at their door."
Asked if Kids Company's finances could have been run more efficiently, Ms Batmanghelidjh said the charity had struggled from a lack of funding rather than its financial management.
She said the charity had passed every audit in its 19-year history "without trouble" and had never received a "single letter" from the government criticising the way it operated.She said the charity had passed every audit in its 19-year history "without trouble" and had never received a "single letter" from the government criticising the way it operated.
Ms Batmanghelidjh accepted Kids Company had a "hand to mouth existence", but said it was struggling to cope with the number of children "pouring through our doors" and "self-referring off the street". She accepted Kids Company had a "hand to mouth existence", but said it was struggling to cope with the number of children "pouring through our doors".
"It's not about bad management on our part, it's about trying to sort out something that society isn't dealing with," she said."It's not about bad management on our part, it's about trying to sort out something that society isn't dealing with," she said.
She added: "I failed because I didn't raise enough money because there isn't money out there to raise. That is where I failed, and I raised the alarm about it."
Case studyCase study
'Annie' from London'Annie' from London
I left home at 16. My uncle was abusing me.I left home at 16. My uncle was abusing me.
I moved in with my partner. He has a large family and the living conditions were really bad.I moved in with my partner. He has a large family and the living conditions were really bad.
His brother was already in touch with Kids Company so I wanted to call them. Within a week of writing to Camila Batmanghelidjh she was hugging me in her office.His brother was already in touch with Kids Company so I wanted to call them. Within a week of writing to Camila Batmanghelidjh she was hugging me in her office.
I was given a key worker who up until Wednesday evening had been with me.I was given a key worker who up until Wednesday evening had been with me.
I got pregnant, I was desperate. Social services were involved. My key worker was there at every meeting with them. I got a lawyer from legal aid. Everything was made so clear to me and at the end of the process social services said they had no concerns so my daughter is still with me.I got pregnant, I was desperate. Social services were involved. My key worker was there at every meeting with them. I got a lawyer from legal aid. Everything was made so clear to me and at the end of the process social services said they had no concerns so my daughter is still with me.
Kids Company also helped pay for my partner's education.Kids Company also helped pay for my partner's education.
And they encouraged me to stick with school. I got my GCSE results - mostly As and Bs!And they encouraged me to stick with school. I got my GCSE results - mostly As and Bs!
Kids Company, synonymous with its charismatic leader Ms Batmanghelidjh, has been supported by prime ministers David Cameron and Gordon Brown. Kids Company has been supported by prime ministers David Cameron and Gordon Brown.
Mr Cameron was accused this week by a senior figure involved in funding talks with the charity of being "mesmerised" by Ms Batmanghelidjh and overruling concerns raised.Mr Cameron was accused this week by a senior figure involved in funding talks with the charity of being "mesmerised" by Ms Batmanghelidjh and overruling concerns raised.
The source suggested officials and ministers at the Department for Education had repeatedly expressed opposition to continued funding for the charity because of concerns about its performance and management. The source suggested officials and ministers at the Department for Education had repeatedly expressed opposition to continued funding because of concerns about the charity's performance and management.
Asked if Mr Cameron personally intervened to keep public money flowing to Kids Company three years ago, Ms Batmanghelidjh said she had "no idea".
The Cabinet Office said: "The government has supported Kids Company... to help it deliver services for vulnerable young people and so we are disappointed it has been unable to move to a sustainable financial position.The Cabinet Office said: "The government has supported Kids Company... to help it deliver services for vulnerable young people and so we are disappointed it has been unable to move to a sustainable financial position.
"The welfare of these young people continues to be our primary concern and we are now working closely with local authorities to make sure they have access to the services they require.""The welfare of these young people continues to be our primary concern and we are now working closely with local authorities to make sure they have access to the services they require."
The Bristol branches of the charities Hop Skip and Jump and Family Lives said they would support those affected by Kids Company's closure.