General Chat

Thanks for that, Rose.

May be of interest to someone

http://www.theguardian.com/society/2015/aug/06/kids-company-closure-government-knew-3m-grant-pay-staff

and from someone it helped
http://www.theguardian.com/society/2015/aug/05/kids-company-helped-me-when-i-needed-it-most

I read today that cash was regularly handed out to youngsters. If that is correct, and done without any records being kept as "to whom" and "how much", then that is true lack of accountability/control.

When I applied for a Welsh Government grant on behalf of a business I had to justify the request and account for how every single penny would be spent.

I cannot foresee any grants being awarded without the exact same contingencies.

It has been reported previously that no checks and balances were in place before additional funding was approved.

What a tragedy that this charity has been closed due to lack of accountability which could have so easily been in place.

I do hope that my post meets with someone's high expectations!

No I don't, that was utter rubbish :-D

Welcome back. Mwah!

Guinevere ;-) one or two threads a day that interested ( or enraged) me I could just about resist lol but more than that ( not just on this board) was too much temptation :-)

*rushes in and hugs Rose*

Good to see you back. And just as wise as ever.
<3 <3 <3 <3 <3

I know very little about the financial history of the charity, I know very little about Camila Batmangelidjh except for the odd interview over the years, but the question was asked or at least implied as to whether Camila's intentions were good. So...

Without knowing her innermost thoughts, both at the founding of the charity and now, it's not possible for any of us to know is it? But I would make this observation ( speculative conjecture though it may be ).

This is a woman with confidence I would say, the fact that she is able to converse with the kids/adults she helps and the great and the good (?!) alike suggests to me that she has both personal charm and a strong belief in herself and the endeavours she undertakes.

Now I am not an outwardly confident person, but I do have some self belief and I look at it this way. If I had founded a charity which has undoubtedly helped many ( or even a business come to that) is it at least possible that I would have done so with the firm conviction I was the best person to run it? I 'might ' perhaps rather close it down completely than see it in the hands of others who would change my vision, or the way I operated. It 'may' be that she thought better (or worse) of her decision in agreeing to step down after the money was given ( the govt are asking for it back btw if you haven't seen that)

Now as I said I don't know Camila, or what the financial situation is/was but I have just watched an interview with someone she helped, and I think the following is as relevant a quote as you will see.

Kids company provided the person with "non judgemental" help

"Somewhere to go" ( for help)
Somewhere to eat.
Somewhere safe".

It shouldn't be down to a charity to ensure those basic rights for young people in this country, should it?

Geordie, her salary seems low compared to many -

http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/582911/charity-salaries-donations-Cancer-Research-NSPCC-Amnesty-Olive-Cooke

Charity is big business now, it seems.

As ever there is probably more to this than meets they eye. Clearly as a business it was insolvent even after the last grant from the government and the directors / trustees should have known that was the case. No doubt the real truth will out in due course.

I was involved in an audit of a number of small charities in the 1970's. (My boss at the time was Hon Treasurer) One in particular stood out in my mind because of the huge amounts paid to the CE, a massive percentage of their total income, leaving precious little left for the good causes it supported. This imbalance was always played down at the annual meeting of donors and supporters.

On the contrary supercrutch - I am more than familiar with the details. I was more puzzled about your nonsensical post which did not appear to make sense.

"without having her having proper" sic

(for those who reported me earlier, "sic" means you are quoting someone else complete with their spelling and/or grammatical errors)

I'd like to see her personal bank deposits over the last few months. It is reported that she earns approximately £90,000 a year. In my opinion that is colossal and what were the other company directors earning. I'm afraid charities begin at home.

GP

You obviously don't know the history of the funding.

What on earth does that mean?

You should consider why Oliver Letwin was so supportive without having her having proper financial management in place.

So if I was given £3 million and the next day closed down my business, would you not find that ever so slightly suspicious?

I haven't jumped on any bandwagon about Heath. I have no opinion yet but do wonder when and how he would find the time and privacy. I await developments.

I don't know enough about the finances to defend Camila, I said I believed she had the best of motives in starting the charities she did. I still believe that.

I tend to think the best of people until I am convinced they are not what I thought.

Just as I am now retorting to your retort as you retorted to mine.

I find it incredible that when people are very quick to jump on the bandwagon with things like the Ted Heath allegations they are all too quick to defend people like this.

Indeed you did.

And I retorted.