Controversial founder of Kids Company vows to reform the charity
Camila Batmanghelidjh plans to reopen Kids Company, albeit in a different guise.
An email sent to staff from the controversial former chief executive of the children’s charity says she is currently looking to open a new office with backing from philanthropists.
The high profile charity, which provided support to vulnerable inner-city children, closed earlier this month after the withdrawal of government funding.
This led to warnings that local authorities would need to intervene to help the estimated 36,000 young people who were being supported by the organisation.
“I’m still working to try and save elements of the project by getting different philanthropists to fund them,” Batmanghelidjh wrote to staff.
“As soon as we’ve set up a new office I will get in touch with those of you who might want to make contact.
I’m still working to try and save elements of the project - Camila Batmanghelidjh
“I hope that, one day, the truth will come out of how much outsiders caused the destruction of the organisation and the reasons why they did it.”
It comes as England and Wales’ Charity Commission confirmed its investigation into the charity centres on concerns about financial management and governance.
However Batmanghelidjh in her email says, in time, “evidence will speak”.
“I realise that in the current media heat the seeds of suspicion can be sown,” she wrote. “This is further grown by the challenging circumstances many of you are finding yourselves in.
“In time, evidence will speak and diminish the destructive rumours that have caused havoc.”
In a statement the Charity Commission said: “Our regulatory interest does not end with the closure of the charity. We have been in almost daily regulatory contact with the trustees since the charity announced its closure on Wednesday 5 August.
“We are in contact with a number of statutory and public agencies in connection with these matters, including the Insolvency Service. Until a liquidator has been appointed by the court, we will not be able to provide further details of our regulatory actions and engagement,” it added.
Kids Company closed saying it had planned to restructure to operate on a lower turnover but was unable to meet its ongoing liabilities due to “serious, as yet unsubstantiated, allegations”.
