Latest news with #CamilaBatmanghelidjh
Times
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Times
Judge rejects attempt to clear name of Kids Company boss
A legal challenge backed by celebrities has failed to clear the name of Camila Batmanghelidjh, the former boss of the collapsed charity Kids Company. The charity closed in 2015 after running out of money amid an investigation into sex abuse allegations — which were later proved to be unfounded — and political controversy relating to £46 million of taxpayer funding. A Charity Commission report published in 2022 found Kids Company ran a 'high-risk business model' and concluded there was 'mismanagement'. Mr Justice Sheldon dismissed most arguments in a judicial review challenge of the report's findings. He ruled that the regulator was not 'predetermined to criticise Kids Company' and found the report's criticisms were 'within its discretion to decide were of sufficient importance to
The Guardian
20-05-2025
- The Guardian
Report into Kids Company was ‘irrational', ‘unfair' and ‘one-sided', court rules
A watchdog report into Kids Company, the children's charity set up by the late Camila Batmanghelidjh, was 'irrational', 'unfair' and 'one-sided' in key criticisms it made of the way the charity was managed, a court has ruled. Nevertheless, although the Charity Commission admitted it made errors and would have to rewrite parts of its inquiry report, published in 2022, the judge refused to quash it, and upheld other criticisms the watchdog made of Kids Company. Although both sides said the ruling vindicated their positions, a separate ruling on costs by the judge, Mr Justice Sheldon, said: 'In substantive terms, it seems to me that there was no overall winner or loser in this case.' Alex Goodman KC, the lead counsel for the supporters of Kids Company, who brought the legal challenge, said: 'We are hugely relieved and pleased with this judgment, which provides long-overdue vindication for Kids Company. This robust decision addresses fundamental wrongs and restores fairness and accuracy to the narrative.' The Charity Commission insisted the ruling had largely vindicated its inquiry report, saying: 'Today's high court judgment has upheld our finding of mismanagement of the charity's finances and has confirmed that it was based on 'ample evidence'.' Kids Company was one of the UK's best-known charities when it collapsed in 2015 after unfounded media reports of abuse. It had been praised for its pioneering work in London, providing practical, emotional and educational support for thousands of severely traumatised children caught up in poverty and gang violence. Batmanghelidjh, its charismatic founder, subsequently endured years of political and media vilification before being dramatically exonerated in a high court ruling in 2021 that praised her achievements and paid tribute to the charity's trustees. The Charity Commission's inquiry report into the collapse of Kids Company published a year later caused surprise when it delivered a formal finding of 'mismanagement in the administration of the charity', triggering the legal challenge by Batmanghelidgh that led to Tuesday's ruling. Lawyers for Kids Company, whose former clinical director Michael-Karim Kerman continued the challenge on behalf of Batmanghelidjh after her death in 2024, argued the commission's report was vague and superficial, ignored positive findings of the previous year's high court ruling, and 'perpetuated stigma' around the charity. Sheldon ruled the commission's criticism of Kids Company's management of payments to children in its care amounted to 'innuendo' and was 'extremely unfair'. He also concluded that a separate criticism of Kids Company's trustees' running of the charity was 'irrational'. Sheldon said: 'Although the commission has a discretion as to what to include in the report of a statutory inquiry, that discretion must be exercised lawfully. Creating such extreme unfairness would not be lawful: in public law terms, it is irrational.' Sign up to First Edition Our morning email breaks down the key stories of the day, telling you what's happening and why it matters after newsletter promotion But he upheld the commission's conclusions on other aspects of the management of the charity, including its handling of client records, claims it made about the number of beneficiaries it supported, and its handling of a payroll issue. He rejected allegations the commission had predetermined the outcome of its inquiry. He said: 'I do not consider that the report, looked at as a whole, was irrational. The fact that the report contains errors, and even a small number of irrational findings or observations, does not mean that the overall document is irrational.' Kerman said he would continue to 'carry on the fight for justice for all those who have been stigmatised by the untruthful narrative [about Kids Company] created by the media and the actions of various government bodies since the charity's closure'. He said: 'Since Kids Company's traumatic closure in August 2015 there has been a concerted attempt to denounce unfairly the charity and all who were touched by it, whether in the capacity of staff, volunteer, supporter or one of the thousands of vulnerable young children and families the charity served for nearly 20 years.'
Yahoo
17-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Coldplay back calls to overturn report that criticised Kids Company
Coldplay and Dame Joanna Lumley are backing calls to overturn a Charity Commission report into Kids Company, which collapsed in controversy a decade ago. They are among a list of celebrities 'seeking justice' for the late Camila Batmanghelidjh, who founded the charity and died last year. The south London charity supported deprived and vulnerable children, but concerns were raised over how its funds were spent. Ms Batmanghelidjh was forced to step down in 2015. The High Court cleared her of wrongdoing but in 2022 a Charity Commission made a formal finding of mismanagement in the administration of the charity. A judicial review is scheduled to take place this week. Coldplay and Dame Joanna are signatories to an open letter, published by the Good Law Project. Other names on the list include Sir Stephen Frears, the film director; Bella Freud, the fashion designer; Lord Hall of Birkenhead, the former BBC director-general; and Alan Yentob, the BBC executive and former chair of trustees for Kids Company. Coldplay were major donors to the charity, funding the creation of the Kids Company Tree House centre in north London and donating £1m in 2009 alone. The letter describes the closure of Kids Company as 'tragic' and reads: 'This review is crucial not only for seeking justice for the charity and its founder, Camila Batmanghelidjh, who sadly passed away on 1 January 2024, but also for upholding the integrity of the entire charitable sector in the UK. 'In February 2021, the High Court unequivocally stated that false allegations, not operational issues, led to Kids Company's closure. No evidence of wrongdoing or fund misuse was found. 'But in its 2022 report, the Charity Commission chose not to accurately represent these finds, prompting this judicial review to ensure that the report is consistent with the facts… The report inaccurately depicts the reasons for Kids Company's closure, abjectly failing to acknowledge the harmful impact of unfounded allegations and external pressures on the charity.' It ends: 'In loving memory of Camila and all who supported Kids Company, we seek accountability, transparency and justice from the Charity Commission. We urge the public to stand behind this significant judicial review.' A spokesman for the Charity Commission said: 'We will robustly defend the findings and conclusions of our inquiry into Kids Company at the High Court.' Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
