Who we are

Katherine Low Settlement is a much-loved, busy charity that has been at the heart of the community in Battersea, London, since 1924. We work to reduce poverty and isolation and bring the community together. Our core programmes support older people, children, young people and their families from refugee backgrounds and newly-arrived adults learning English: over 500 people a week visit our building. We campaign for social change and we partner with other charities and communities to help them to thrive in the wider community.

Our Vision, Mission, Values Statement

We exist to create an inclusive society where the communities of Battersea and Wandsworth achieve their potential together. We foster and empower our local community to reduce poverty and isolation. We stand for kindness, respect, collaboration, and sustainability.

Trustees

Abby Cable, Vice Chair
Abby is a neighbour of the KLS.

“KLS plays a key role in enabling our community to work together and look out for one another. It’s a privilege to be able to apply skills learnt in the workplace to such a worthwhile organisation and to be part of a talented and dedicated team at an exciting stage in its evolution.” Abby joined the Board in 2016 and became Vice Chair the following year. She has a background in strategy and healthcare and is a director at multinational Plc.

Ben Thomas, Chair of Trustees
Ben is Principal of Thomas’s London Day Schools.

“I believe in being a good neighbour and was hugely impressed by the important work that KLS was doing to support the local community and to foster and strengthen community spirit. It has been a real privilege and pleasure to meet and work with such a diverse range of positive people and to witness the growth of so many brilliant projects under KLS’s roof. I am the Headmaster of Thomas’s Battersea, a co-educational independent prep school in Battersea High Street from the ages of 4 to 13. I am also a Principal of Thomas’s London Day Schools, a family-run group of schools which was started by my parents in the 1970s. The schools now educate more than 2,000 children in four preparatory schools.”

Cerise Prince
Cerise is a manager in a technology start-up serving the financial industry

“Making time to contribute to causes I care about and having a positive impact on communities has always been important to me. When I discovered KLS, I was deeply impressed by the breadth of ways that they support people in need within Battersea. Since being appointed as a Trustee in October 2022 and the time before, it has been a pleasure to witness the excellence of KLS staff, and to see the remarkable difference they make to the people of Battersea and Wandsworth.”

Geoff Thomas
Geoff is a long-standing member of the board.

“I have known KLS through Francis Holland School, who have been a long term charitable supporter, I admired their work and when I retired I was invited to be a Trustee, which I happily agreed to. I have a background in most forms of operational management (finance, buildings and general controls) having been a director of an auto component manufacturers and subsequently as a Bursar.”

Martin Alcock
Martin runs a consulting business helping companies in the travel industry.

“I first got involved with KLS as a learning mentor in the Love to Learn programme, supporting young people from refugee backgrounds with their studies. I was immediately blown away by the team’s commitment to helping families in the community, and so it was an honour to join the board of trustees, to help out.”

Dr. Sarah Swash
Sarah is a senior civil servant in the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

“I first got involved with KLS in 2014, through being a learning mentor with Love To Learn. In 2018 I was invited to become a KLS trustee. I’ve done voluntary work since I was about 18 – first before university and now alongside my full-time job. I’ve always worked with under-represented people in society because I feel it’s important for me to give something back. When I walked through the main entrance of the KLS building for the first time I felt an amazing sense of positivity, community and engagement. As a trustee I’ve seen the broad range of valuable projects which the charity runs, working with such a diverse variety of people, and I feel privileged to be able to contribute alongside such a fantastically impressive team. The stories of people I’ve met highlight to me the incredibly important role KLS has in the local community. It brings people together, gives individuals a voice and instills confidence. I feel proud to be part of the KLS community.”

Our Staff

Sarah Gibb
KLS Chief Executive
[email protected]

Abdul Chowdry
Love to Learn Team, GCSE Club Teacher
[email protected] 

Adalberto Lonardi
KLS Chief Creative Officer
[email protected]

Ahmed Omar
Love to Learn Team, Education Caseworker
[email protected]

Ayla Estreich
Love to Learn Team, Lead Youth Worker
ESOL Team, Maths Teacher
[email protected]

Chris Andrew
Elders Team, Tech Up Battersea Worker
[email protected]

Chris Kelleher
KLS Head of Volunteering
[email protected]

Dawn Killeen
Elders Team, Outreach Worker
[email protected]

Emily Standring
KLS Fundraising Manager
[email protected]

Faith Saunders 
ESOL Team, Teacher
[email protected]

Filsan Osman
KLS Administrator
[email protected]

Fran Juckes
ESOL Team, Head of Programme
[email protected]

Jetha Makieleka
Love to Learn Team, Youth Worker – Mentoring Project
[email protected]

Josh Evans-Jesra
Love to Learn Team, Youth Worker – Homework Clubs
[email protected] 

 

 

Judith Rule
ESOL Team, Teacher
[email protected]

Kathryn Ede
ESOL Team, Administrator / Volunteer Coordinator
[email protected] 

Lisa Idrisu
Elders Team, Outreach Worker
[email protected]

Mary Foley
Love to Learn Team, Administrator
[email protected]

Mery Mekonen
Love to Learn Team, Joint Head of Love to Learn (interim)
[email protected]

Nadine Ballantyne
Love to Learn Team, Joint Head of Love to Learn
[email protected]

Sagal Abdisalam 
Love to Learn Team, Education Caseworker
[email protected]

Sarah Goodall
Elders Team, Head of Programme
[email protected]

Siobhan
ESOL Team, Teacher
[email protected]

Sophie Lawton
KLS Receptionist
[email protected]

Tony Hersey
KLS Receptionist
KLS Maintenance Officer
[email protected]

Tracy Frostick
KLS Head of Finance & Premises
[email protected]

Support our family

We are committed to building stronger communities and enabling people to challenge themselves and find ways out of isolation through our varied community projects. There are so many ways you can support our work and help us to deliver our services to even more people.

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