Kids Company founder Camila Batmanghelidjh wrote of how she used 'loving blackmail' to secure funding
Email explains how Batmanghelidjh employed 'loving blackmail, arm-twisting and all manner of ghetto-strategies'
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.The founder of Kids Company, which received at least £46m of government money despite civil servants’ concerns about how it was run, wrote of how she used “loving blackmail, arm-twisting and all manner of ghetto-strategies” to persuade politicians to give funds to the now defunct charity.
In an email sent to staff in 2013, Camila Batmanghelidjh celebrated the awarding of a £4.5m grant from Whitehall in typically flamboyant style.
The email, which was obtained by ITV News, was one of several which describe how she worked to keep afloat the charity, which was set up to help some of Britain’s most vulnerable children.
Ms Batmanghelidjh wrote that the grant would keep Kids Company going for two years.
She then continued in a light-hearted vein, which she may regret given the charity’s collapse earlier this year.
“There was definitely loving blackmail, arm-twisting and all manner of ghetto-strategies before we got to this point. But you know that we love politicians, we have compassion for them, and we are always waiting to rehabilitate them. Read between the lines,” she said.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments