Charity founder unrepentant over gifts

 Camila Batmanghelidjh, founder of Kids Company, has insisted she will not apologise for using charity money to buy disadvantaged young people “material goods” and spa treatments.

Batmanghelidjh said it was unfair to deprive children of “nice things” in a society which is driven by brands.

Saying one young man cost £55,000 in treatment including a stay at Champneys health spa, she argued it was important not to give up on “difficult cases”. Kids Company was shut down in 2015 amid allegations of financial mismanagement.

Batmanghelidjh has now written a book about child protection in Britain. She has previously said the charity worked within budget, with all money used “doing very important work with the children and families”. In an interview with The Sunday Times Magazine, she said: “I don’t apologise for buying the kids nice things.”