Is anyone listening to Desert Island Discs? Camilla Batmanghelidjh is on

[ScareyCaligulaCorday]

She is such a remarkable, extraordinary woman. It's so depressing that someone who is doing what she is is seen as some kind of wierdie eejit when she is one of the only people in this country really doing something positive and effective about "criminal class" young people.

saw her on tv a few weeks ago.

She is an inspiration.

Who is she?

A few of her staff tend not to agree, I've heard... I'm never sure what I think. I agree with her compassion and love thesis but wonder whether her charisma sometimes distracts from the message. And I think allowing kids to carry guns into her projects is v v v v questionable.

I think she went to school with QPH, didn't she?

I agree with Scummy.

I agree with Scummy too.

here she is anorak

Didn't know she let kids carry guns into projects.

She was saying she doesn't allow drugs. Would be surprised if guns were considered less dangerous than drugs tbh

She acknowledged on the programme that many of the young people in the project carry weapons for protection and that they were not searched. I have heard one story from someone who seemed trustworthy that made me feel that, despite some good work, her project was not always a safe place to be for kids or staff in ways that were quite preventable. This person reported that when things became unequivocally unsafe in quite a shocking way the management (ie CB herself) categorically refused to involve the police. This was a few years ago though so maybe things have changed. I feel quite ambivilent about her media hunger as well. I suppose the project needs funding but her public profile seems quite ME ME ME a lot of the time.

Having worked for various people Famous for Charisma I have started to distrust it a bit.

Hmm, I suppose it is a very fine line between giving these children the conditions where they will actually come into the projects, and then making the projects a safe environment once they're there. And without their weapons they wouldn't come in - a catch 22 situation. She's working with the very kids nearly every other organisation in the country can't reach, because they do place more emphasis on the safety of the staff and other clients.

I wouldn't work there! But I admire anyone who would.

lol at mouselike manner!

I'm not sure she is that charismatic tbh. Impressive, but not charismatic.