Allegations, accusations and counter-accusations continue to fly
around the collapse of Kids Company. It is not my purpose to
comment on any of the specific claims in detail, however, as a
charity trustee myself, it gives me pause to reflect on my own
practice and the governance arrangements of the charity on whose
board I serve.
The Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee
(PACAC), which looked into the failure of Kids Company, makes some
pretty stark comments about the role and responsibility of trustees
and the constitution of a charity's board. 'Primary
responsibility for Kids Company's collapse,' it rightly
states, 'rests with the charity's Trustees.' It then
draws attention to the Charity Commission's guidance that
requires trustees to 'make decisions solely in the
charity's interests, so they shouldn't allow their
judgement to be swayed by personal prejudices or dominant
personalities.'
