Camila Batmanghelidjh
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Speaker Topics
- Youth Offending
- Workforce Reform
- Wellbeing
- User Voice
- Pastoral
- Out Of School Learning
- Motivation
- Mentoring
- Learning
- Leadership
- Integrated Youth Services
- Childrens Social Services
- Childrens Services
- Child Protection
- Child Poverty
- Behaviour/Discipline
- Arts And Education
Introduction
Camila Batmanghelidjh is the founder and director of Kids Company, a charity which delivers practical, emotional and educational support to vulnerable inner-city children and young people. Established in 1996, Kids Company reaches out to 12,000 children through two drop-in centers at street level, and therapeutic programmes in more than 30 schools across London.
In her early twenties Camila founded her first charity, The Place 2 Be, which now offers a national programme of emotional support and therapy in primary schools. Camila followed this by setting up Kids Company drop-in centre in Camberwell.
In the last 13 years, Camila and her team have fundraised over £40 million for Kids Company. As an advocate for marginalised children she speaks regularly at national conferences, and contributes articles to newspapers and professional publications. Her book, Shattered Lives: Children who live with Courage and Dignity, was published in 2006 and has become a staple of the social work and psychotherapy training syllabuses.
Current Positions Held
Camila Batmanghelidjh is the founder and director of Kids Company.
Personal Achievements and Awards
• Honorary Doctorate of Education 2009
• The Rotary Club fellows award, 2008
• Numbered in top 50 of the Evening Standard’s most influential Londoners, 2008
• Lifetime Achievement Award, The Centre for Social Justice, 2008
• Liberty and Justice Human Rights Award (given to Kids Company), 2008
• Elected to the council of Liberty, by vote, 2007-2008.
• Most Admired Chief Executive, Third Sector Magazine, 2007
• Clarins Dynamiste Woman of the Year Award 2006
• Person of the year 2006, New Statesman Magazine
• Woman of the year 2006, Good Housekeeping
• Social Entrepreneur of the Year, Ernst and Young, and Coutts 2006
Honorary Degrees
Camila has received honorary degrees and doctorates from Goldsmiths, University of London; the University of Warwick; the University of Northampton; the University of Staffordshire; the University of East Anglia; the Open University; the University of Wolverhampton and London Metropolitan University.
Relevant Career and Professional Background
• Private Practice / Psychotherapy / Learning Support
• Founder and Co-ordinator of The Place To Be (3 years)
• Play Therapist
• Therapeutic Work with Bereaved Children, Royal Free and Cruse (part-time for 2 years)
• Art Therapist, Westminster Social Services (part-time)
• Psychotherapy Lecturer, Regent’s College Modular Certificate (part-time for 2 years)
Teaching courses covering a wide range of therapeutic philosophies.
• Director of Milestones Art Club (on Saturdays for 3 years)
• Director of Counselling, American College (for 3 years)
• Psychology Lecturer, American College, London (part-time for 3 years)
Teaching Business, Social and Abnormal Psychology (voted teacher of the year).