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Camila Batmanghelidjh, the founder of Kids Company charity, has died aged 61.
The individual, originally from Iran, established Kids Company in 1996 with the purpose of aiding disadvantaged children and youth in London and Bristol.
On Monday, she passed away at the age of 61 after battling an illness for a period of time.
It is reported that she spent her final Christmas preparing gifts for underprivileged children.
According to a statement from her family published by the Guardian, she passed away in her sleep on January 1st, following a celebration with her loved ones for her birthday.
She was referred to as a never-ending wellspring of motivation, who devoted her life to championing for the most at-risk children in Britain.
The statement declared that she was a never-ending source of inspiration, a wellspring of cleverness, and a vibrant array of colors for all those around her, particularly for her family.
Ms Batmanghelidjh was born into a wealthy family in Iran and moved to England when she was aged 12. She gained a first-class degree from Warwick University.
After receiving training as a psychotherapist, she established her company in 1996.
In 1996, a social activist from Iran established a non-profit organization called Kids Company.
In 2015, Ms Batmanghelidjh resigned from her organization amidst accusations of mishandling. Nonetheless, the High Court found her innocent of any wrongdoing in the same year.
In 2015, the charity faced scandal when authorities began probing allegations of abuse and exploitation. The investigation was eventually dropped after seven months, following the airing of a BBC Newsnight segment.
Before the inquiry, the organization gained support from various notable figures such as ex-UK leader David Cameron, the band Coldplay, painter Damien Hirst, and comedian Michael McIntyre. In recognition of her efforts, Ms Batmanghelidjh was appointed a CBE.
In 2021, a High Court judge denied a bid to prohibit Ms. Batmanghelidjh and seven former trustees from serving as company directors.
In the year 2022, the Charity Commission released a report stating that the charity had been poorly managed and had a “high risk business model”.
In the following year, Ms Batmanghelidjh was successful in her attempt to take the report to a High Court for further examination.
Source: independent.co.uk
