The curious case of Kids Company – a mystery in plain sight

Three months before Kids Company closed in August 2015, the Met Police in Lambeth wrote to Camila Batmanghelidjh, founder and CEO of Kids Company, noting the exceptional impact the groundbreaking charity was making in crime prevention. The letter also referred to the possible creation of a collaborative Violence Recovery Unit, which both young people and frontline police officers could turn to for help.

This wasn’t just a single accolade. Kids Company had spent almost 20 years building strong relationships across sectors – working with schools, social services and law enforcement to provide critical support to thousands of children.

But then, across spring and summer 2015, there was a sudden change of gear. The government, media, and other institutions turned on the charity with breathtaking speed. One day, a respected partner of law enforcement and social services, and a lifeline for thousands of children. The next? A scandal-ridden pariah.

How does this happen? How does a charity go from being a beacon of support to being the target of relentless accusations in a matter of months? Already fully vindicated of any wrongdoing by the High Court, Good Law Project is supporting next week’s judicial review to overturn the Charity Commission’s highly critical 2022 report, and fully restore the reputations of Camila and Kids Company for their vision, their innovation, and their unerring love for the kids who had been so let down so badly by so many others.