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The Kids Company cure for ‘dangerous people’? A trip to Champneys

After MPs claimed last month that the Kids Company’s closure was down to a ‘catalogue of failures’, the charity’s founder Camila Batmanghelidjh appeared on Woman’s Hour in an attempt to defend her honour.

Alas things soon took a turn for the worse when she was asked why Kids Company had used charity money to send a youngster in their care to Champneys spa. The luxury spa chain is popular with a host of celebrities from Cherie Blair to Kylie Minogue.

Defending the decision, Batmanghelidjh said the luxury spa was the only option open to them after an NHS hospital wouldn’t take the child in question:

‘This individual ended up in that spa because he was actually very psychotic. The NHS hospital wouldn’t take him.

We had to put him into a private hospital or he was going to do something incredibly dangerous to himself or other people.’

Still, the last time Mr S checked, there were plenty of private health alternatives to the luxury spa chain.

Steerpike
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Steerpike

Steerpike is The Spectator's gossip columnist, serving up the latest tittle tattle from Westminster and beyond. Email tips to steerpike@spectator.co.uk or message @MrSteerpike

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