The founder of Kids Company, which has a local base in Liverpool, is to step down as Chief Executive and assume an advocacy and clinical role.
This comes after a recent Ofsted report on the company’s Lambeth base found that: ‘a failure of leadership has resulted in the deterioration of almost all safeguarding services and services for looked after children and their families’.
BBC News has also reported that government officials told the company it would not get £3m of funding unless Camila Batmanghelidjh was replaced.
In Liverpool, Kids Company delivers a therapeutic performing arts programme for vulnerable and disadvantaged young people which culminates in an annual performance at The Liverpool Empire each year.
The programme is underpinned by holistic support through key worker staff, who assess all young people involved and develop individual care plans.
The young people are also provided with business mentors who help them set career goals and engage in work experience that inspires them and provides them with opportunities to access employment in their chosen field.
A statement on the Kids Company website today, 3rd July, stated that “Since the beginning of this year, Kids Company has received fewer philanthropic and public donations. At the same time the charity has continued to meet the practical and emotional needs of an increasing number of high-risk vulnerable children, young people and families, who are not being supported by the statutory system. This has led to an unprecedented financial strain.”
“In partnership with a city-based group of philanthropists, the charity is being supported by the new government to create a more sustainable organisation and funding structure that will be better able to tolerate unpredictable income streams in the future. Camila Batmanghelidjh, the founder and Chief Executive of Kids Company will not be leaving the organisation and will assume an advocacy and clinical role after the appointment of a new Chief Executive. An announcement will be made when the details are finalised.”
To read the statement in full, please visit the website.
