Testimonials

Clients' experiences of working with Katherine:

David Martin, Head of Social Policy Campaigns, Citizens Advice 

When developing its Sexual Orientation Equality Scheme, Transport for London sought the involvement of lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) people from the start of the process. In order to achieve this aim TfL worked with Katherine Cowan to reach as wide a group of people as possible from across London's diverse LGB communities. Katherine's knowledge of the communities, professional approach and excellent facilitation skills ensured that TfL's engagement with LGB people was not only effective, but ground breaking. The result has been a scheme which has been described as best practice by stakeholders and influential members of the community such as Peter Tatchell. TfL has been so impressed with Katherine's work that she has been engaged to take TfL to the next level in terms of how it reaches out to customers from across London's communities.

Stephen Golden, Head of Policy and Strategy, Transport for London 

The James Lind Alliance has been commissioning Katherine’s services since March 2008. She oversees the ongoing evaluation of our challenging work programme, contributing at both strategic and micro level, and managing external communication with our Affiliates. She is an excellent report writer, both in speed of action and also quality and imagination of output. When facilitating, Katherine makes an immediate impact - people warm to her and feel confident contributing to her meetings, to excellent mutual benefit. Katherine is able to immediately strike a rapport with people, which she develops to a position where she can lead individuals and groups towards common goals without imposing her own views or opinions.
Lester Firkins OBE, Chair, James Lind Alliance
  

I had attended one of Katherine’s Citizens Advice training sessions and was so impressed by that experience that I had no hesitation in commissioning her to work with our Bureau. Katherine prepared and delivered equality and human rights awareness training to representatives from community groups in our Borough. It was excellent. Katherine conveyed complicated information in a readily accessible manner and one which left delegates inspired and confident to use equality and human rights legislation and provisions for the benefit of their client groups. In preparing the session, I really appreciated Katherine’s clarity and efficiency and ease of communication. She demonstrated a great ability to quickly assimilate our requirements and translate these into what we needed – her first draft was virtually the finished product. She also made some invaluable suggestions. We will certainly be commissioning Katherine again.
Anni Broadhead, Chief Executive, Hammersmith & Fulham Citizens Advice Bureau

We commissioned Katherine to undertake research to find out what our lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) residents and staff think about the Council as a service provider and as an employer. From the outset, Katherine was extremely well organised and quickly established a robust and well thought out structure for the research, which helped us to focus on what the key issues might be. We had positive feedback from those who took part in the research, who found Katherine to be a good listener, and very knowledgeable about the issues affecting LGB people. I'm sure that the trust and rapport Katherine built up with staff and residents during interviews helped her gain a deeper insight. Katherine's research skills are complemented by her excellent writing skills. We now have a very clearly written, well laid out report, that we will use to form the basis of our Sexual Orientation Equality Scheme. We have enjoyed working with Katherine, hope to do so again in the future and can't recommend her highly enough!

Louise Murphy, Corporate Equalities Officer, Bath & North East Somerset Council

YouthNet commissioned Katherine to evaluate the impact of involving young people in the design and delivery of our Respect campaign, which aims to tackle negative representation of young people in the media and in politics. Katherine’s work with the Respect Young People’s Advisory Group was well received by the group and resulted in some insightful testimonies for YouthNet’s report. The group felt comfortable talking to her about the campaign and appreciated Katherine’s patient approach. The report will be distributed to Government and other organisations as an example of best practice for the participation of young people. 

Sarah Wilson, Media and PR Manager, YouthNet

HMP Send invited Katherine to deliver a talk to female offenders on lesbian, bisexual and transgender women’s rights as employees, consumers, partners and mothers. The women here at Send thoroughly enjoyed Katherine’s presentation and were very keen to ask questions. She was very friendly, knowledgeable and informative, and showed a real interest in the women's issues, which they appreciated. It was a real pleasure working with Katherine.
Tom Bollingmore, GALIPS Rep, HMP Send

As part of our 20th Anniversary plans, Katherine carried out a piece of research which examined WOMANKIND’s history, our activities, policy development, fundraising and the beneficiaries with whom we have worked with over the past 20 years. The work was based on analysis of our current and historical documents which Katherine traced from a range of sources. In order to complete the research she consulted a number of staff, all of whom enjoyed working with her, commenting that she was extremely friendly and polite. Katherine was very pro-active and meticulous in her approach to this research and produced a document that we are extremely happy with. It was a pleasure to work with someone as professional and personable as Katherine.
Helen Whittaker, Head of Fundraising and Communications, WOMANKIND Worldwide 
  

Katherine’s work with the Albert Kennedy Trust as a researcher and adviser was impeccable. She understood what we were hoping to achieve and translated this into a coherent and comprehensive research project. She also demonstrated a real understanding of best practice in working with young people both as participants and researchers, which was empathic and empowering. Katherine showed an ability to adapt her style for working with both fellow researchers and lay people. Her values, ethics, motivation and understanding showed she is a ‘real world’ researcher with a commitment to ensuring the views of LGBT people are portrayed clearly and without prejudice or subjectivity. Katherine is very client focused in her work and was willing at all points to listen to our concerns and views, as well as being able to offer clear and objective advice. The final report she produced has proved incredibly useful as a tool for: campaigning and lobbying; providing a case for support to funders; proving our own credibility in the field of homelessness and housing; and informing the ongoing development of our work. Without hesitation I would recommend Katherine as a researcher, consultant and trainer.

Tim Sigsworth, Chief Executive, The Albert Kennedy Trust

Katherine’s role in the Westminster mapping project was completely integral to its success. When Galop first considered tendering to deliver research for Westminster City Council on the needs and experiences of LGBT people in the borough, we knew that we would need to work with a professional consultant to help us deliver the project. From the very beginning, I have been impressed by Katherine’s knowledge and professionalism. Katherine undertook her own tasks in the project faultlessly, including helping to plan the project, identifying and interviewing stakeholders and members of the public individually and in focus groups, and identifying and writing up findings. Even more importantly for us however, Katherine's positive and flexible outlook meant that she was able to provide us (a small charity) with important support and advice during difficult phases in the project, responding to its changing needs. I would have no hesitation in recommending Katherine as a consultant.

Deborah Gold, Chief Executive, Galop

As part of the team which carried out St Mungo’s Equality Audit, Katherine reviewed our policies and procedures, interviewed management and visited a number of our homelessness projects. She also facilitated a series of focus groups with staff. She created an environment in which staff felt safe expressing their views and experiences, and generated very enjoyable discussions which were immensely helpful in informing our equality and diversity work at every level of St Mungo’s. We thoroughly enjoyed working with Katherine and found her approach to be professional, meticulous and friendly. 

Amanda Egan, Equality and Diversity Advisor, St Mungo's

Age Concern Tower Hamlets and Age Concern Redbridge found Katherine excellent to work with: highly professional and efficient, very competent and informed, coupled with a warm and friendly manner. Katherine’s skills were key in ensuring the successful publicising and organising of two successful events for LGBT older people to launch a 50+ LGBT Social Network in the boroughs of Tower Hamlets and Redbridge. Katherine’s communication skills were brilliant both in keeping us updated on progress, and in her sensitive clarifying of service users’ ideas when she facilitated groups at both events. This was a small piece of work, with a limited budget, but which required a range of tasks to be achieved within a short timescale, which Katherine achieved with alacrity and enthusiasm. Katherine’s input and skills have enabled two Age Concern organisations to begin to address the isolation and lack of social provision for LGBT older people in east London.
Christine Sheppard, Age Concern Tower Hamlets