Our values form the essence of our identity and aspirations. They guide us in uniting as one, fuelling our ambition to create a brighter, healthier, and more secure future for everyone.
Together, We Thrive
Collaboration is key to our success.
We foster connections and understanding.
We celebrate diversity and lived experiences.
We trust and nurture our community, encouraging growth, reflection, and joy.
We acknowledge our privilege and power, choosing humility.
Bold Innovators
Passion and commitment drive us to excel.
We embrace challenges, navigating complexity with courage.
We seek fresh perspectives, daring to defy norms and expand horizons.
Catalysts for Change
Our focus is on meaningful impact, not accolades.
We produce and share evidence of effective solutions.
Creativity and action are at the heart of our mission.
Living Our Values
We champion diversity and transparency, prioritizing growth and mental well-being.
We learn from our mistakes, valuing honest, unfiltered feedback.
We continually listen and act with genuine authenticity.
Meet The Team
KarmaBank CIC started as a WhatsApp group in 2020 to encourage cooperation amongst relief organizations to better allocate food surplus, volunteer, and logistics support. Since 2022, we have developed innovative wellbeing projects and community hubs that have provided support to 5000+ individuals, served over 12,000 free meals and food parcels, and we have designed and delivered 100+ creative education and employment initiatives in partnership with numerous international, national and local organisations.
CEO & Founder
Andrew Standen-Raz
After studies in Anthropology, Film, and Law, Andrew worked for Miramax Films and 20th Century Fox, wrote for magazines, taught film studies, created art installations, curated a film festival, and designed a T-shirt campaign to fund support for unaccompanied minor refugee children. He made the documentary film "Vinyl: Tales from the Vienna Underground", which premiered at international film Festivals. After volunteering at a refugee camp in 2015, Andrew organised film premieres for Ai Wei Wei and Ifrah Ahmed, the international anti-FGM campaigner. He founded the Pod Refugee Welcome Space in 2021, and designed and administrated emergency relief services, foodbanks and community kitchens during the pandemic. Andrew launched Karmabank as a CIC with co-founder Rima Sams in 2022.
After studies in Anthropology, Film, and Law, Andrew worked for Miramax Films and 20th Century Fox, wrote for magazines, taught film studies, created art installations, curated a film festival, and designed a T-shirt campaign to fund support for unaccompanied minor refugee children. He made the documentary film “Vinyl: Tales from the Vienna Underground”, which premiered at international film Festivals. After volunteering at a refugee camp in 2015, Andrew organised film premieres for Ai Wei Wei and Ifrah Ahmed, the international anti-FGM campaigner. He founded the Pod Refugee Welcome Space in 2021, and designed and administrated emergency relief services, foodbanks and community kitchens during the pandemic. Andrew launched Karmabank as a CIC with co-founder Rima Sams in 2022.
Non-Executive Director, Environment & Equality
Felicity Tan
With 15 years of international experience architecting multi-sector partnerships in philanthropy, advising multinationals on government relations, and blue chip organizations on their advocacy and influence strategies, Felicity now designs collaborations where climate and society meet. She provides expertise and thought leadership on partnership paradigms, collaborative philanthropy and catalytic capital. She is also a passionate advocate for centring the voice of the global south in the defining issues of our time - and redefining what it means for women to lead.
“ I'm always interested in opportunities to share my expertise and help others who want to build innovative collaborations and impactful organizations to deliver meaningful change for - and with - the communities that matter to them.
With 15 years of international experience architecting multi-sector partnerships in philanthropy, advising multinationals on government relations, and blue chip organizations on their advocacy and influence strategies, Felicity now designs collaborations where climate and society meet. She provides expertise and thought leadership on partnership paradigms, collaborative philanthropy and catalytic capital. She is also a passionate advocate for centring the voice of the global south in the defining issues of our time – and redefining what it means for women to lead.
Executive Director, Head of Education
Rhonda Borrel-Chafin
Rhonda is a qualified and experienced ESOL tutor who has created and delivered adult education courses (in English, Maths and ICT) within West London based charities for more than 10 years.
She has been working with KarmaBank since August 2022 primarily focusing on community engagement and development of educational and digital skills for our members.
Rhonda is a qualified and experienced ESOL tutor who has created and delivered adult education courses (in English, Maths and ICT) within West London based charities for more than 10 years.
She has been working with KarmaBank since August 2022 primarily focusing on community engagement and development of educational and digital skills for our members.
Consultant, Strategy + AI/Digital Adoption
Ildiko Modla-Szalai
Ildiko partners with CEOs, COOs, and Social Impact Leaders in both nonprofits and corporations to bridge the gap between strategy and action, ensuring their programs drive tangible, mission-aligned results. She connects the dots—building a clear thread from mission to strategy to activities. By aligning operational efforts with the organisation's overarching goals, she helps articulate a cohesive impact story that demonstrates the organisation’s true value.
Advisor, Digital Strategy
Anastasia Lisitskaya
Anastasia is an unshakable optimist who believes in a bright future and our ability to build it together.
She started her career in creative industries, working for international agencies like Ogilvy and McCann. She then gained solid experience as a consultant helping major brands build effective digital strategies across the world, facilitate innovation, implement new digital tools and advocate for agile digital cuclture. For over 15 years she's been focusing on building collaborative multicultural teams and communities to drive change and positive impact at scale.
Anastasia is an unshakable optimist who believes in a bright future and our ability to build it together. She started her career in creative industries, working for international agencies like Ogilvy and McCann. She then gained solid experience as a consultant helping major brands build effective digital strategies across the world, facilitate innovation, implement new digital tools and advocate for agile digital cuclture. For over 15 years she’s been focusing on building collaborative multicultural teams and communities to drive change and positive impact at scale.
Non-Executive Director, Volunteer for Refugee Affairs
Gulsom Gohar
Gulsom is passionate about pursuing justice and fairness for the people she represents. For five years after graduating in Criminal Law, she was a Prosecutor and investigator of crimes against women & girls at the General Attorney of Afghanistan. She investigated and handled cases related to femicide, rape, forced marriage, child marriage, sexual harassment, and child abuse. In fear for her life, was evacuated to the UK after the fall of Kabul in 2021, and is now retraining as a solicitor, and working as a paralegal at Bevan Brittan LLP, supporting the employment team.
Gulsom is passionate about pursuing justice and fairness for the people she represents. For five years after graduating in Criminal Law, she was a Prosecutor and investigator of crimes against women & girls at the General Attorney of Afghanistan. She investigated and handled cases related to femicide, rape, forced marriage, child marriage, sexual harassment, and child abuse. In fear for her life, was evacuated to the UK after the fall of Kabul in 2021, and is now retraining as a solicitor, and working as a paralegal at Bevan Brittan LLP, supporting the employment team.
Ambassador for Sports and Performance
Ayuna Berbidaeva
An avid skier and competitive ballroom dancer from childhood, Ayuna became a wheelchair user at the age of 15. Over what she calls her «wheelie» years, Ayuna has trained for paratriathlons, medalled in surfing & tennis competitions, climbed mountains, applied to be the first wheelchair user in space, modelled at London Fashion Week, and gained national media attention as a contemporary dancer with the UK's first all-wheelchair dance company. Ayuna is a member of National Youth Dance Company, and became the first ever wheelchair dancer at the opening ceremony in UEFA history, performing for the Champions League Final 2024 in Wembley with Lenny Kravitz. Ayuna's love for performances fuels her passionate advocacy for all abilities to participate in sports, music, dance and art.
An avid skier and competitive ballroom dancer from childhood, Ayuna became a wheelchair user at the age of 15. Over what she calls her «wheelie» years, Ayuna has trained for paratriathlons, medalled in surfing & tennis competitions, climbed mountains, applied to be the first wheelchair user in space, modelled at London Fashion Week, and gained national media attention as a contemporary dancer with the UK’s first all-wheelchair dance company. Ayuna is a member of National Youth Dance Company, and became the first ever wheelchair dancer at the opening ceremony in UEFA history, performing for the Champions League Final 2024 in Wembley with Lenny Kravitz. Ayuna’s love for performances fuels her passionate advocacy for all abilities to participate in sports, music, dance and art.
Director for KarmaBank Arts Programs
Caroline Burraway
Multidisciplinary artist Caroline Burraway’s body of work confronts socio-political conflicts and cultural ruptures between and within communities, engaging the viewer in converation around these issues. Concerned with underlying social structures and the everyday lived experience of the displaced and disenfranchised, she explores the interplay between the banality of the everyday and the political conditions of their precarious existence.
Multidisciplinary artist Caroline Burraway’s body of work confronts socio-political conflicts and cultural ruptures between and within communities, engaging the viewer in converation around these issues. Concerned with underlying social structures and the everyday lived experience of the displaced and disenfranchised, she explores the interplay between the banality of the everyday and the political conditions of their precarious existence. Burraway has been responding to the refugee crisis since 2015, gathering research material from camps across Europe to produce mixed-media installations, large-scale drawings, sculptures, soundscapes and videos to provoke a humanistic response to the twin issues of displacement and dispossession in our compassion-fatigued world.
Web Design and Development
Markus Freise
As a creative entrepreneur, Markus has been involved with countless aspects of creativity, running a successful design agency, selling his illustrations, and publishing graphic novels.
As a creative entrepreneur, Markus has been involved with countless aspects of creativity, running a successful design agency, selling his illustrations, and publishing graphic novels.
Data Scientist, AI & Digital Communications
Mory Kante
Mory is a data wizard, with lived experience of rebuilding his life here as a refugee. He completed his BA and MSc studies in Data Science and is our lead for consultation on several digital and AI Tech for Good projects with leading organisations such as the Rotary Club, Google, and CAST
Non-Executive Director, Project development & community engagement
Dorinda Montgomery
Dorinda is an artist and passionate community champion, supporting local communities in Kensington & Chelsea at a granular, grass roots level. Dorinda has extensive experience in event planning, project management, and volunteer coordination, coordinating food banks and the sunken gardens project, for which she developed an open-air popup cinema programme. Dorinda commits herself daily to fighting on behalf of local residents struggling financially and coping with mental and physical challenges.
Recipient of the 2025 Chelsea Award for Community Hero, Dorinda is a passionate and results-oriented community champion with extensive experience in event planning, project management, and volunteer coordination. Dorinda is an expert in building relationships, securing funding, and delivering impactful initiatives that empower and connect local residents. Her creative talents include graphic design, and social media marketing.
Karmabank Ethical Framework
Equality & Diversity:
At Karmabank, we envision a world where equality, diversity, and inclusion are at the forefront of every endeavor. We urge our partners not just to meet the Equality Act’s requirements but to embrace our vision of a more inclusive future. Our Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion policy, alongside our Dignity at Work policy, outlines our proactive approach to fostering these principles.
Environmental Responsibility:
We acknowledge the urgent Climate Crisis and are committed to becoming a greener organization through our Environmental Policy, which guides us and those we engage with to protect the planet.
Health & Safety:
Our promise is a safe and supportive work environment, emphasizing the health and welfare of our people, the public, and contractors.
Ethical Fundraising:
Our Ethics and Gift Acceptance policy ensures transparent donation processes, aligning with charity laws and the Fundraising Regulator’s Code, while our Fundraising Commitment strengthens our bonds with supporters.
Ethical Procurement:
Our Procurement Policy encourages thoughtful purchasing decisions, prioritizing value, equality, and sustainability, ensuring suppliers comply with fair wages and the Modern Slavery Act.
Salary & Wages:
We proudly pay all employees at least the London Living Wage, regardless of location, as a Living Wage Foundation member, setting an example for our supply chain.
Investments:
Karmabank invests with a focus on environmental, social, and governance factors, ensuring alignment with our Vision & Mission.
Research Ethics:
We are dedicated to ethical research, safeguarding participants’ rights and dignity, and ensuring transparency in data usage, adhering to GDPR and seeking ethics board approval for major studies.
Policy & Advocacy:
Our advocacy efforts are grounded in social justice, involving those with lived experiences in the development and sharing of our recommendations.
Programmes:
Safety and transparency are our top priorities, ensuring all program aspects honor our ethical principles and safeguard partners and beneficiaries.
Data:
We comply with the Data Protection Act 2018 (UK GDPR)
Conduct:
We maintain high standards of conduct, emphasizing honesty and integrity.
Anti-Bribery:
We enforce a zero-tolerance bribery policy.
AI:
We ensure responsible AI usage in line with our values and laws.
Monitoring & Review:
We regularly review our policies with stakeholders, adapting to legislative changes and internal needs. Approved December 2024.
THEORY OF CHANGE
Vision: Redefining Humanity
Mission: Fostering societal transformation, participatory justice and a healthier planet, though co-desiging innovative solutions with community stakeholders.
How?
Developing sustainable projects that benefit our members, from our RAW art Gallery to offering opportunities for philanthropic investment
Accessing resources and donations-in-kind from partnerships with influential organisations
Utilising AI and digital platforms to facilitate connections between those willing to help and those in need.
Leveraging community power through encouraging “karma banking” – supporting others to benefit the whole community
Activities:
Our RAW Gallery, established as a powerhouse for important female creative voices
The KB App: an AI searchable digital platform to benefit localised stakeholders with updated support services information to be able to get help or provide help.
Lift outreach, working 1-1 with members to access programmes and opportunities for education, employment and wellbeing. Achieve sustainable change through tailored, holistic support
Change-making events with partner support and resources.
Transition from short-term charity actions to long-term, impactful projects addressing complex ‘Wicked Problems.’
Focus on consultancy, project co-design, collaborations, and partnerships, reducing direct operational involvement in events and programs.
Results?
Members upskill and become independent.
Increase in sustainable participatory justice projects.
Enhanced community participation through karma points system.
Successful events and partnerships that drive social change.
Scaled and monetized initiatives leading to broader impact.
Karmabank leads sustainable social change through a universally accessible support App.
Impact:
Marginalised and excluded groups achieve more access to education, better employment prospects, and increased health.
Community overall achieves better health and happiness
“
Thank you for kindness. Great today- the yoga was fantastic and left us feeling energised and spiritual. The company was brilliant and I spoke to people from all over the world over a wonderful meal.
Refugee
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The app Calm its amazing. Last night my mood was very bad just I played the music and some sounds from Lebron James (professional NBA basketball player) positive sentences , and today morning I listened to relaxing music and story with minions 🤩🤌🏼
So yes was awesome. I just wanna tell you thank to gave me this app.
Refugee
“
My bicycle it’s amazing thank you very much for changing my life 😘❤️
Refugee
“
My best day was football day that Andrew Help us to join in a Football tournament.
Afghan National Youth Team player.
Refugee
“
So many incredible projects, personalities, and dynamic energy. We will find a way to collaborate-
Festival Director
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How to share a message of hope in the face of such injustice and tragedy…
Faith Leader
“
The KarmaBank team have reminded me that humanity exists- it’s not all about dollar signs and politics.
Refugee
“
I really enjoyed yesterday’s event, thank you so much for arranging it. The drawing activity was joyful for everybody because everyone could draw their dream picture and it has a message.
Afghan Human Rights Activist for Women & Girls
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I'd like to thank you for Saturday, it was really a brilliant event with such a nice atmosphere. So nice to see a very varied crowd all together from 2 to about 70 years old, all from different backgrounds. They produced beautiful drawings reflecting on personal experiences.
Curator, French Institute, London
“
Thank you for everything . I greatly appreciate . You are really nice and positive. Last time when I was in your group after long time I was feeling good . I hope I will be as member of your group for ever if you don’t mind . I think I can learn many thing as peace and happiness from you and these are everything I need.
Survivor of Domestic Violence
Our Key Milestones
In cooperation with our partners
20
Supported nationalities
2000
People supported with food & basics each month
100
Organisations we cooperate with each year
100
People engaging in our creative, wellbeing & sports acitivites each month
Our core strategy
Our core strategy is based on the old saying that it is better to give someone a fishing rod than just the fish, and we do that through treating each person we meet as unique individuals, with unique needs.
The Iranian GP helped us realise we need to think of those we help as unique individuals with unique issues to resolve, not a faceless group we can easily label.
Social Impact is All About Stories
All our projects are driven by the people that come to us, entirely “bottom-up”. We combine their lived experience with our creative skills, humanitarian experience and wide network of volunteers, cooperating partner organisations, private companies, sponsors, and local government:
Afghan human rights lawyers including a winner of a humanitarian medal who escaped after hiding from the Taliban, came to us devastated that their life’s work to protect women and girls was now lost. We connected the female lawyers with the Human Rights Law department at SOAS to continue their life’s work and teach SOAS students about their experiences.
A young Ukrainian girlwho arrived traumatised from the ongoing Russian attack on her country found some relief by helping Ukrainian, Afghan & Iranian female artists to join our Nourish Makers’ Market Art stall project. We found her a tutor to help her train for the SATs so she can attend a top University to study psychology.
A young homeless autistic man who came to a food bank wanted to take photographs. So we gave him a camera and invited him to film the world from his perspective. We arranged for him to meet and learn from an artist, and encouraged him to share his photos in a gallery.
For residents who enjoy art, the French Institute connected with a local artist curated by KarmaBank to teach a free drawing class after a film screening. The packed first session included 10 Afghan women supported by KarmaBank who had never had an art class. The institute is continuing its project with quarterly film & art classes.
The Iranian GPhas now become one of our key coordinators – finding her happiness through helping others find a route out of their traumas.
KarmaBank Co-Design Zone
”If the world was designed better we wouldn’t need support.” (Founder, Disability Action Network)
Creating music, cooperating on a new project, sharing the load: Life is better when we design it together.
The best projects start from “bottom up”: listening to diverse lifestyles and different abilities, especially from those we aim to support. For an athlete in a wheelchair navigating a world without fully accessible transport or bathrooms, or a refugee mum with an autistic child who came across a rough sea in a small boat, or an elderly pensioner unable to afford life without access to a foodbank,, Necessity is the Mother of Invention: the people we support have “lived experience” of developing creative ways to survive, and often know best what they need. They just lack the resources & network to develop and implement sustainable solutions.
So how do we do it?
Design Thinking
Listen. We don’t start with an idea, and try to make it fit. We start from scratch each time, crafting a fresh solution to a unique individual or requirement.
Identify issues. What is the core issue out of everything presented? Is there an emergency or urgent need to triage first? What are the long term objectives? How can we ensure a person feels actualised and worthy?
Ideate/brainstorm solutions that meet the core needs and objectives – even blue sky or way out of the box ideas can provide the creativity needed for crafting a practical plan to resolve seemingly impossible situations.
Make a Prototype – the distillation of the process into a realistic and achievable plan of action. The simplest prototype is a sheet of A4 and a pen.
Test the solution. Doesn’t work out as planned? Start again at step 1, rinse & repeat.
When we are asked for support, or to consult on a project or event, KarmaBank applies the 5-step Design Thinking Method:
Most projects are in a constant flow of adaptation, pivoting, improvement, learning by doing and trial by error. Sustainable change doesn’t happen at once, and it may take a few cycles before something sticks. Along with passion, we have lots of patience too 🙂
It is justice, not charity, that is wanting in the world.
Mary Wollstonecraft
Our philosophy?
Participatory or Communal Justice: Bring everyone in on designing a better future for all – one that is truly “Just”, without leaving people out.
You, KarmaBank, our volunteers, local residents, local “stakeholders” (shop owners, nurses, gardeners, teachers, kids), councils, other organisations, private corporations, funders…we all have something to contribute to shaping constructive and positive spaces that sustain everyone equally.
Charity is a wonderful thing, but top down charity is a thing of the past – we help each other best together.
A just society is a society that if you knew everything about it, you’d be willing to enter it in a random place.
John Rawls
Our Services
KarmaBank is a consultant and developer of creative projects that produce positive and sustainable impact in various ways. Projects don’t always meet expectations, which wastes funding, time and resources. To tackle this:
• We facilitate cooperative networks between organisations to maximise local resources – funding, volunteers, donations, logistics, spaces, trainers – which help projects deliver what they hope to.
• We work in close collaboration with a diverse range of artists and cultural institutions. We conceptualise creative programmes that benefit marginalised and vulnerable voices and provide a platform for artworks on issues that matter.
• We design spaces and wellness programmes that respond to local needs, whether relief services for new refugees, or ongoing outreach and support services for local communities.
Above all, we believe in the beauty of Action taken with Care, Consideration, and Compassion.
Contact us for more information, or to schedule a consultancy here
Any action done with beauty and purity, and in complete harmony of body, mind and soul, is Art.”
