Tributes have been paid to the founder of the Kids Company charity Camila Batmanghelidjh, who has died at the age of 61 after “a period of failing health”, according to her family.

She is most well known in the charity sector for founding the Kids Company charity in 1996, which supported disadvantaged children in London, Bristol and Liverpool but folded in 2015 amid financial problems.

Her nephew Esfandyar Batmanghelidghj released a statement from her family announcing her death on Tuesday.

“She believed that vulnerable children in Britain deserved 'unrelenting love'. She was a source of inspiration, a fountain of wit, and a kaleidoscope of colour. I adored her,” he said.

My beloved aunt, Camila Batmanghelidjh, has died.

She believed that vulnerable children in Britain deserved "unrelenting love."

She was a source of inspiration, a fountain of wit, and a kaleidoscope of colour. I adored her.

I am sharing a statement from our family. pic.twitter.com/oyW31qUEHE

— Esfandyar Batmanghelidj (@yarbatman) January 2, 2024

The family’s statement reveals “she died peacefully in her sleep” during the night on News Year's Day, following a birthday celebration.

“Working alongside her devoted colleagues and dedicated volunteers, Camila changed the lives of tens of thousands of children and young people in London, Bristol and Liverpool otherwise neglected by a failing child protection system. She showed these children that they were worthy of love and support.”

The statement adds: “Camila’s family hopes that her memory will inspire others to consider how they might protect and uplift vulnerable children.”

Among those paying tribute is homelessness support charity Brixton Soup Kitchen which revealed Batmanghelidjh had “donated over 100 Christmas gifts last week to less fortunate kids”.

“Our hearts go out to her family at this time,” the charity added.

Very sad to announce that camila batmanghelidjh founder of kids company has passed away this morning and our hearts go out to her family at this time, She donated over 100 Christmas gifts last week to less fortunate kids 😩❤️🙏🏽#camilabatmanghelidjh #kidscompany pic.twitter.com/rV6Vq8MS2d

— Brixton Soup Kitchen (@BrixSoupKitchen) January 2, 2024

Jumpin’ Jack Frost, DJ and ambassador for the We are Hummingbird mental health and suicide prevention organisation, is another to pay tribute to Batmanghelidghj, saying she was an “amazing woman” who “helped 1,000s of disadvantaged children”.

Kids Company’s closure and the running of the charity had became the subject of a long running legal battle in recent years after the Official Receiver sought to disqualify Batmanghelidghj and the charity’s trustees from being company directors.

However, two years ago they were cleared by the High Court with Mrs Justice Falk saying the charity’s leaders were "a group of highly impressive and dedicated individuals who selflessly gave enormous amounts of their time”.

Batmanghelidjh had long denied blame for the collapse of the charity, saying in 2017 that the charity’s team “were not responsible for the closure of Kids Company. Not at all, and I’m being absolutely clear about that”.

Frost said: “She was also publicly accused of things she never did and was never really given the respect she deserves.”

BBC presenter Richard Bacon added that she was “a brilliant human scarred by a scandal in which she was found to have done nothing wrong”.

“Because being cleared is never as famous as being accused. She was kind and good and better than most of us. And she improved the lives of thousands of children.”

Among those to be supported by Kids Company is X user SouthernMrsOwen who said the charity “gave me a chance” when “so many adults wrote me off as a lost cause”.

She added: “Like many South London kids, I was listened to, understood and guided by a strange woman in a multicoloured headdress. Camila saved me.”

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