CASE STUDY: INSTITUT FRANÇAIS

Ask:

Client invited Karmabank to help connect their mission with the local community in Kensington & Chelsea, in particular refugees, and marginalised and vulnerable local residents on low income. The partnership has evolved over several years, from offering free cinema tickets and spaces for community events, to co-designing special events.  In 2024, we co-hosted a series of special events following the screenings of films on the theme of women fighting gender discrimination in sports,  including the documentaries “Offside”, and “Copa 71.”

For: 

The Institut Français, the cultural mission partner for the French Embassy in the UK

Locations:

Institut Français salon, and the Ciné Lumière

Design:

Karmabank designed two events to reflect the principle themes in the films. For OFFSIDE, we focused on Iranian female gender equality; for COPA 71, we focused on wider sports equality in the UK affecting women, girls and marginalised persons, and the overall beneficial effect of sports on mental health in our community – a critical issue following the twin impacts of COVID and the cost of living crisis. 

OFFSIDE: 

– a drawing workshop to offer attendees an opportunity to respond to the themes, facilitated by Iranian artist Fatima Vahabi, one of Karmabank’s RAW gallery collective of female refugee artists. 

• a live performance by Ziba Karbassi, the Iranian Poet and a former director of PEN International Relations and chair of Exiled Writers Ink.
• Live music performance by a Saudi teenage asylum seeker, and refugee from forced marriage and LGBTi discrimination. 
• The programme was presented by Ayuna Berbidaeva, para triathlete, para contemporary dancer, and Sports & Performance Ambassador for Karmabank.

COPA 71:

• A  panel discussion following the film which included players from QPR’s women’s team, the London FA, Amnesty international’s Football Welcomes Project, and Najma Arefi, the  refugee Afghan female footballer evacuated from Kabul in 2021.
• Space in the lobby for local mental health organisations from the NHS and Minds United FC to raise awareness of their services.

Impact:

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CASE STUDY: STIPO X OPPORTUNITY KENSINGTON

Ask:

Client wanted to add a social impact partner to deliver catering for a 3-day conference called “The City at Eye Level”, connecting 25 organisations to discuss current urban planning ideas for “placemaking”. 

For: 

Stipo.nl, an international organisation advising urban planners and local governments on how to design better and more inclusive urban spaces; and Opportunity Kensington, representing 400 businesses along High Street Kensington. 

Locations:

The Holland Park Ecology Centre, and Opera Holland Park

Design:

Karmabank helped two female entrepreneurs to:

• provide a professional standard, corporate catering service – Payava, a refugee Ukrainian bakery, and Babylon Bites, run by a local social housing resident with Iraqi roots.  
• We micro-financed catering supplies, and helped each entrepreneur to tailor the food to the client’s specifications for 3 lunches, 3 breakfasts, 5 coffee breaks, and a closing drinks reception.  
• We paid a Ukrainian refugee female graphic artist to design the Babylon Bites logo, and advised the new enterprise on every step of developing a new food business, from certifications to attending a business course, and offering healthy menus. 
• Prior to the conference, we provided long-term support over 1-3 years, including helping both businesses to start selling at London markets. 

Impact:

Thank you so much for your kind words and for the generous support you and your team offered during our training week in London. It was truly a pleasure collaborating with Karmabank. Υou create such a warm and welcoming atmosphere, and of course, you added a meaningful layer to the experience by connecting participants with powerful stories and initiatives.

Our Impact: 3000+ Support Connections Annually

The Big Issue, October 2022

Watch a short clip of some of our Change projects