Camila Batmanghelidjh, the founder of Kids Company, a renowned charity for children, and a prominent advocate for underprivileged youth in the UK, has passed away at the age of 61.
Batmanghelidjh – known for her charisma, colourful attire and outspoken pursuit of social justice for children – had been ill for many months, though she rallied in recent weeks. She died peacefully on New Year’s Day, having celebrated her birthday with family and friends.
The family of Camila Batmanghelidjh announced her passing with a statement expressing their deep sorrow. She passed away during her sleep on the night of January 1st after celebrating her birthday with her loved ones.
“Camila dedicated her life to advocating for Britain’s most vulnerable children. She was the founder of two groundbreaking charities, Place2Be and Kids Company, which pioneered new therapeutic and clinical models to achieve a singular goal: ‘To see children and young people become safe and able to realise their potential.’”
According to Alan Yentob, a broadcaster and former chair of Kids Company, who has collaborated with Batmanghelidjh for a long time, the news of her departure has left all of us who have worked with her heartbroken. The thousands of children whose lives were positively impacted by her efforts will also feel the loss. She will be greatly missed.
Batmanghelidjh was born in Iran and received an education in the United Kingdom. She gained recognition for her work in establishing Kids Company in the late 1990s in south London. This organization aimed to assist young people who were affected by poverty, abuse, trauma, and gang violence, and who were not receiving adequate support from social services and the NHS.
Her work, influenced by her background in psychotherapy, captivated the attention of the general public, politicians, and famous individuals. As a result, she was able to secure millions of pounds in donations to support the charity’s innovative therapy for tens of thousands of children.
During the peak of her fame in the mid-2000s, she was referred to as the “Angel of Peckham” by the press. She had influence over both Labour and Conservative prime ministers, gained the backing of celebrities and artists, and was recognized for her strong advocacy for children’s rights and reform for child protection.
In 2015, the founder of Kids Company, Batmanghelidjh, and the organization’s board members made the decision to shut down the charity due to its mounting financial difficulties. This was further complicated by a BBC report alleging sexual abuse within the charity, leading to criticism from the general public and media. Law enforcement later looked into the accusations and found no proof of misconduct.
Despite fervently maintaining her innocence, she faced intense criticism from certain media outlets for several months, a stark contrast to her previous favorable relationship with the press.
The official receiver made a well-known and costly effort to prohibit her from having prominent positions in the public sphere, ultimately resulting in a 10-week trial in 2021.
The judge cleared Batmanghelidjh of any wrongdoing and dismissed the accusation that Kids Company had been poorly managed and that donated funds were not used appropriately. The judge commended her for her unwavering commitment to helping at-risk youth for an extended period of time and for her accomplishment in creating a thriving charity that made a significant impact.
Batmanghelidjh expressed anger towards a later report from the Charity Commission regarding the downfall of Kids Company. The report alleged that the charity had poor administrative management. A year ago, she was granted permission to take her case to the high court in an attempt to challenge the report. However, her health issues prevented her from pursuing the case.
Following Kids Company, Batmanghelidjh continued her efforts in a discreet manner from her modest apartment in West Hampstead. She provided assistance to at-risk children, offered guidance to schools, and maintained communication with numerous former employees and “graduates” of Kids Company.
Her family’s statement added: “Working alongside her devoted colleagues and dedicated volunteers and donors, Camila changed the lives of tens of thousands of children and young people in London and Bristol otherwise neglected by a failing child protection system. She showed these children that they were worthy of love and support.
She was an endless source of inspiration, a fountain of wit, and a kaleidoscope of color for everyone around her, particularly her family.
The Rev Steve Chalke, founder of the Oasis academy trust, which worked with Batmanghelidjh post-Kids Company, said she had been an inspiration, adding: “In the work she did with traumatised and disadvantaged kids at Oasis, the depth of her wisdom and her sheer love of children shone out.”
Source: theguardian.com
