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Cabinet Office convenes crisis meeting to deal with Kids Company fallout Cabinet Office convenes crisis meeting to deal with Kids Company fallout
(34 minutes later)
A crisis meeting involving local charities, councils, youth clubs and other agencies was convened by the Cabinet Office on Thursday in an attempt to provide support for thousands of the most vulnerable children left without a lifeline following the closure of Kids Company.A crisis meeting involving local charities, councils, youth clubs and other agencies was convened by the Cabinet Office on Thursday in an attempt to provide support for thousands of the most vulnerable children left without a lifeline following the closure of Kids Company.
Representatives of about 40 organisations met government officials and Kids Company chair Alan Yentob in south London to formulate plans to help minors affected by the charity’s closure.Representatives of about 40 organisations met government officials and Kids Company chair Alan Yentob in south London to formulate plans to help minors affected by the charity’s closure.
The Guardian understands that the Cabinet Office will circulate a memo to organisations who attended the meeting on Friday, but that no clear plan of action has been agreed as to how to best look after those stranded by the organisation’s dramatic termination.
Related: BBC denies Alan Yentob influenced Newsnight's Kids Company reportRelated: BBC denies Alan Yentob influenced Newsnight's Kids Company report
The Guardian understands that the Cabinet Office will circulate a memo to organisations who attended the meeting on Friday, but that no clear plan of action has been agreed as to how to best look after those stranded by the organisation’s dramatic termination.
Richard Curtis, founder of The Root of It, an organisation that works to raise standards in special needs services in schools, said: “If there is not something put in place very quickly, it’s very likely that things will start to deteriorate in those areas with those families that Kids Company has been supporting.Over the next few days a way forward will be identified by the Cabinet Office with local authorities and the other organisations who were present.”Richard Curtis, founder of The Root of It, an organisation that works to raise standards in special needs services in schools, said: “If there is not something put in place very quickly, it’s very likely that things will start to deteriorate in those areas with those families that Kids Company has been supporting.Over the next few days a way forward will be identified by the Cabinet Office with local authorities and the other organisations who were present.”
The meeting occurred on the same day the charity’s founder, Camila Batmanghelidjh, lashed out at ministers, civil servants and the press, claiming the organisation was the victim of a “trial by media”. During a plethora of media appearances early on Thursday, Batmanghelidjh made claims that elements of the government had turned on her because she is “outspoken”.The meeting occurred on the same day the charity’s founder, Camila Batmanghelidjh, lashed out at ministers, civil servants and the press, claiming the organisation was the victim of a “trial by media”. During a plethora of media appearances early on Thursday, Batmanghelidjh made claims that elements of the government had turned on her because she is “outspoken”.
When Kids Company closed this week, the charity had 36,000 children on its books. Several thousands of these are considered to be in need of immediate support. UK Youth, a national charity, said it was “working closely” with the government to fill the gap left by Kids Company.When Kids Company closed this week, the charity had 36,000 children on its books. Several thousands of these are considered to be in need of immediate support. UK Youth, a national charity, said it was “working closely” with the government to fill the gap left by Kids Company.
But the three main local authorities where Kids Company has its bases – Bristol, Lambeth and Southwark – are expected to take the brunt of the fallout. Local authorities have a legal duty to safeguard vulnerable children living in their area.But the three main local authorities where Kids Company has its bases – Bristol, Lambeth and Southwark – are expected to take the brunt of the fallout. Local authorities have a legal duty to safeguard vulnerable children living in their area.
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
However, Lambeth, which is expected to pick up the largest proportion of children formerly under the care of Kids Company, has its own problems in managing its children’s services department. In May its service was rated as inadequate by Ofsted, and inspectors were damning in their report. “There are widespread or serious failures in the delivery of services for looked-after children which result in their welfare not being safeguarded and promoted,” they wrote.However, Lambeth, which is expected to pick up the largest proportion of children formerly under the care of Kids Company, has its own problems in managing its children’s services department. In May its service was rated as inadequate by Ofsted, and inspectors were damning in their report. “There are widespread or serious failures in the delivery of services for looked-after children which result in their welfare not being safeguarded and promoted,” they wrote.
The government’s emergency meeting followed emotionally charged scenes on Wednesday outside the Kids Company centre in Peckham, south London, where the charity was founded 19 years ago. Children and parents waving placards protested against the closure, while staff left the centre in tears, exchanging hugs with families they had worked with.The government’s emergency meeting followed emotionally charged scenes on Wednesday outside the Kids Company centre in Peckham, south London, where the charity was founded 19 years ago. Children and parents waving placards protested against the closure, while staff left the centre in tears, exchanging hugs with families they had worked with.
Kids Company had a string of celebrity backers, including rock band Coldplay and artist Damien Hirst, and was lauded by the prime minister, David Cameron, as the embodiment of “the big society”.Kids Company had a string of celebrity backers, including rock band Coldplay and artist Damien Hirst, and was lauded by the prime minister, David Cameron, as the embodiment of “the big society”.