Battersea, SW11 3HP – August 3rd, 2020
To help protect those in need in the Battersea community against catching the Covid-19 virus, a total of 14,000 high quality face masks, worth many thousands of pounds, are being given away free by a generous local fashion garments business, Lavender Hill Clothing.
Distributing the masks into the community has been made easier and quicker thanks to Isobel Ridley, founder of the company (pictured above), working with the almost 100-year-old Battersea-based community services charity Katherine Low Settlement (KLS).
Through its strong and well established network of partners, the charity is acting as lead distributor and has already supplied over twenty other large and small charities in the area with over 10,000 masks, in consignments ranging from twenty up to a thousand masks each. In turn these charities are giving the face masks to the most vulnerable in the community and using the masks to protect their own frontline workers. Another 4,000 masks are being made by Lavender Hill Clothing for distribution by KLS.
“Early in lockdown, my company started to have face masks made to play an active part in countering the Coronavirus pandemic,” says Isobel Ridley, founder of Lavender Hill Clothing. “I also wanted to offer face masks to those unable to buy them. I was told about Katherine Low Settlement and soon discovered they partner with a number of charities in the area. Through this valuable alliance they are quickly and efficiently distributing face masks out to those in need in the community.”
Lavender Hill Clothing already sells its own brand of face masks on its website in packs of three and for every pack sold one is given away free to Katherine Low Settlement.
Triple-layered and treated with an anti-bacterial finish, the company’s face mask is 100 per cent, high quality cotton with elastic ear loops. Supplied with a cotton pouch, the masks are washable and reusable and designed for use by men and women.
Aaron Barbour, head of Katherine Low Settlement, says: “Face masks are now a legal requirement and becoming an accepted part of life, but to a significant number of people in the Battersea community buying face masks places yet another costly and unwelcome burden on their already stretched financial resources.
“Additionally, those charities assisting this vulnerable part of the community have to pay for the protection themselves. Now, thanks to the generosity of Isobel Ridley and her company, Lavender Hill Clothing, they can all not only comply with health requirements at no cost, but also feel better because of the face mask’s high quality.”
Founded in 2013 by Isobel Ridley, Lavender Hill Clothing is a luxury British womenswear brand specialising in sustainably made wardrobe staples. Lavender Hill Clothing produces flattering feminine clothing that are manufactured from natural organic fibres and low-impact fabrics in the UK, Italy and Portugal.
Web: https://www.lavenderhillclothing.com/
Katherine Low Settlement is a much-loved, busy charity that has been at the heart of the community in Battersea, south-west London, since 1924.
With a few staff and a lot of volunteers, Katherine Low Settlement runs a range of its own popular community projects including educational courses and wellbeing activities. The charity supports children, young people and their families, older people, refugees and newly arrived communities of all genders, nationalities and religions.
The Katherine Low Settlement building in Battersea High Street, opened in 1924, is used for community activities and events, usually – until the arrival of Covid-19 – by over 500 people a week. Its rooms are available for hire at affordable rates.
Katherine Low Settlement is grateful for the funding received from supporters, trusts and foundations to enable the charity to continue to reduce poverty and isolation and bring Battersea together.
Web: www.klsettlement.org.uk
Miss Isobel Ridley
Founder
Lavender Hill Clothing
Telephone: 07803 598 084
Email: [email protected]
Web: https://www.lavenderhillclothing.com/pages/our-story
Aaron Barbour
Director
Katherine Low Settlement
Telephone: 020 7223 2845.
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.klsettlement.org.uk
Mark Mitchell
Katherine Low Settlement
Email: [email protected]
Pictures
High resolution digital images available from Katherine Low Settlement press contacts.