Daily roundup October 13: Kids Company, Cumbria, and schools

Former funders of Kids Company are setting up a new organisation to carry on some of the work of the collapsed charity. Former Kids Company chairman, Alan Yentob, told The Independent that he is in contact with several of the charity’s former philanthropist supporters. Yentob and the charity’s former chief executive Camila Batmanghelidjh are due to appear before the public administration and constitutional affairs select committee on Thursday.


Cumbria County Council’s children's services department is holding talks with government ministers over the future of services at the local authority. The BBC reports that changes made within the department will be discussed with children's minister Edward Timpson. In May the county council's children's services department was rated "inadequate" for the third time in four years.


Councils in London should have the final say on the location of new schools within their boundaries. London Councils said a poll carried out by YouGov found that 80 per cent agree that councils should make the decision. It also revealed that 78 per cent of parents asked support councils influencing schools to expand or find more places.


Social business Catch22 has announced the acquisition of criminal justice charity Only Connect. Catch22 said the deal has been designed to “foster innovation in public service delivery” and will “pave the way for a new type of relationship between smaller and larger sized charities”. Only Connect will continue to operate independently, retaining its brand, board of trustees, premises and charity number.


A Manchester-based mental health charity working with young people under stress has received £516,000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund. The money will be used by 42nd Street to open a new venue in May 2016.