This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-33376467

The article has changed 10 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 3 Version 4
Kids Company's Camila Batmanghelidjh to step down Kids Company's Camila Batmanghelidjh to step down
(35 minutes later)
The chief executive of a charity whose government funding has been withheld over concerns about its ability to manage itself is to step down.The chief executive of a charity whose government funding has been withheld over concerns about its ability to manage itself is to step down.
Kids Company had been told by government officials it would not get £3m of funding unless its leader Camila Batmanghelidjh was replaced.Kids Company had been told by government officials it would not get £3m of funding unless its leader Camila Batmanghelidjh was replaced.
Ms Batmanghelidjh told BBC Radio 4's Today programme she had always planned to step down in her 20th year in 2016.Ms Batmanghelidjh told BBC Radio 4's Today programme she had always planned to step down in her 20th year in 2016.
She denied the charity had been mismanaged.She denied the charity had been mismanaged.
Ms Batmanghelidjh said she would stay on at the charity in a clinical role.Ms Batmanghelidjh said she would stay on at the charity in a clinical role.
It follows a joint investigation between BBC Newsnight and Buzzfeed, which learned the Cabinet Office had concerns about the charity's ability to run itself.It follows a joint investigation between BBC Newsnight and Buzzfeed, which learned the Cabinet Office had concerns about the charity's ability to run itself.
'Always the plan''Always the plan'
Ms Batmanghelidjh told the Today programme: "What I was always going to do… As a founder I think it is very important to step down and hand an organisation over for other people to run it.Ms Batmanghelidjh told the Today programme: "What I was always going to do… As a founder I think it is very important to step down and hand an organisation over for other people to run it.
"I was always planning to do that in the 20th year, which would have been next year."I was always planning to do that in the 20th year, which would have been next year.
"That was always my plan. We were going to appoint a chief executive to take over the role because that's the right thing to do.""That was always my plan. We were going to appoint a chief executive to take over the role because that's the right thing to do."
The charity, which started in south London and supports deprived young people and their families, is one of the most high-profile in Britain and regularly hosts leading politicians.The charity, which started in south London and supports deprived young people and their families, is one of the most high-profile in Britain and regularly hosts leading politicians.
It is synonymous with its charismatic leader and founder Ms Batmanghelidjh.It is synonymous with its charismatic leader and founder Ms Batmanghelidjh.
It relies heavily on public funding; in the last set of published accounts, for 2013, the government provided £4m, about one fifth of its annual £20m funding.It relies heavily on public funding; in the last set of published accounts, for 2013, the government provided £4m, about one fifth of its annual £20m funding.
Officials reported that Justice Secretary Michael Gove and Oliver Letwin, minister without portfolio, supported a tougher approach to the charity.Officials reported that Justice Secretary Michael Gove and Oliver Letwin, minister without portfolio, supported a tougher approach to the charity.
But Ms Batmanghelidjh said claims the charity was being mismanaged were a "red herring" to avoid the "real issues" - that the government was not protecting people "robustly". 'Absolutely clear'
But Ms Batmanghelidjh said claims the charity was being mismanaged were a "red herring" to avoid the "real issues" - that the government was not protecting children "robustly".
She said: "This is briefing to avoid the real issues... I've repeatedly challenged various governments on the fact they're not protecting children robustly.She said: "This is briefing to avoid the real issues... I've repeatedly challenged various governments on the fact they're not protecting children robustly.
"It so happens that the type of briefing they're now delivering is one in which they're trying to discredit me to weaken my argument.""It so happens that the type of briefing they're now delivering is one in which they're trying to discredit me to weaken my argument."
Ms Batmanghelidjh said the charity had been audited during the last 19 years and had always been "clear". Ms Batmanghelidjh said the charity had been audited during the last 19 years and had always been "absolutely impeccable and clear".
She said the charity had also been evaluated by the London School of Economics over its management, the way it functions, and its value for money and the LSE's reports indicated it was running at a "very high level of excellence".She said the charity had also been evaluated by the London School of Economics over its management, the way it functions, and its value for money and the LSE's reports indicated it was running at a "very high level of excellence".
Ms Batmanghelidjh said the charity had held "uncomfortable discussions" with the government about child protection.Ms Batmanghelidjh said the charity had held "uncomfortable discussions" with the government about child protection.
She said: "Kids company is taking care of far too many mentally ill children and children who are not being protected robustly and our discussions with government have been that a charity cannot handle this load. She said: "Kids Company is taking care of far too many mentally ill children and children who are not being protected robustly and our discussions with government have been that a charity cannot handle this load.
"There have been sometimes uncomfortable discussions which has made the government, understandably, potentially uncomfortable with the message.""There have been sometimes uncomfortable discussions which has made the government, understandably, potentially uncomfortable with the message."
Labour's acting leader Harriet Harman said the government needed to keep its pre-election funding pledge to Kids Company. Labour's acting leader Harriet Harman said the government needed to maintain its pre-election funding promise to Kids Company.
She tweeted: "1000s of young ppl need @KidsCompanyUK . Govt must keep pre-elec funding pledge."She tweeted: "1000s of young ppl need @KidsCompanyUK . Govt must keep pre-elec funding pledge."
The government has repeatedly resisted attempts by Newsnight and BuzzFeed to use the Freedom of Information Act to obtain correspondence between the prime minister and either Ms Batmanghelidjh or the charity's chairman, Alan Yentob, the BBC broadcaster and executive.The government has repeatedly resisted attempts by Newsnight and BuzzFeed to use the Freedom of Information Act to obtain correspondence between the prime minister and either Ms Batmanghelidjh or the charity's chairman, Alan Yentob, the BBC broadcaster and executive.
A Cabinet Office spokeswoman said: "Making sure that every child has the best start in life is our top priority, so we will continue to work with Kids Company to ensure its important work is sustainable."A Cabinet Office spokeswoman said: "Making sure that every child has the best start in life is our top priority, so we will continue to work with Kids Company to ensure its important work is sustainable."