Royal visit to mark Battersea charity’s centenary 

The Mayor of Wandsworth, Cllr Juliana Annan, and Deputy Council Leader Kemi Akinola were among those welcoming the Duchess, who saw some of the support KLS provides to the local community and thanked volunteers for their hard work. 

The Katherine Low Settlement was opened in 1924 by the late Queen Mother, who returned in 1940 to mark its 40^th anniversary. Since then it has helped thousands of local people, and currently supports more than 500 vulnerable residents each week including the elderly, children, young people and their families and refugees. 

The council commissions services from KLS, including English for Speakers of Other Languages lessons and two services for older people: Age Well Battersea to increase physical fitness and reduce isolation and Tech Up to teach digital skills to help independence.   

Other support includes funding from the Wandsworth Grant Fund last year for the spectacular new House of Love mural painted throughout the KLS entrance hall with the help of 47 volunteers, which tells the story of the settlement and the people it has helped. 

During Tuesday’s visit the Duchess took part in some chair-based exercises held to keep older people active, and joined a sewing class for women newly arrived in the UK. 

She also saw a Love to Learn session for children from a refugee background and their families (pictured below). In November the Love to Learn educational and wellbeing programme won a Wandsworth Civic Award. 

Other classes run at KLS include a weekly LGBTQ Club and maths, IT and English classes for speakers of other languages. 

Kemi Akinola said: “KLS is at the heart of the Battersea community, and a voluntary sector key partner for us, lending a hand to so many people across the borough. On our journey to become a Borough of Sanctuary we especially welcome the crucial work they do to support refugees and help integrate them into the local community.  

“They are truly inspirational and I’m delighted that the Duchess of Edinburgh has taken the time to see their work and help them celebrate their 100^th birthday.”  

Sarah Gibb, Chief Executive of KLS said: “It was an absolute honour for us to welcome Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Edinburgh to Katherine Low Settlement in Battersea today. This year marks the charity’s 100th anniversary of bringing the Battersea community together and we are thrilled to start our centenary year with a Royal visit.” 

The Duchess unveiled a plaque celebrating the centenary. Other events this year will include a street party in May and a gala fundraising party. 

The KLS building is also 100 years old and a £200,000 appeal has been launched to make it more accessible, sustainable and welcoming.

Find out more at klsettlement.org.uk/kls100/