A new charity which has just moved into Birmingham is seeking volunteers for its Northfield based service, supporting women back in to work.
Smart Works is a UK charity that supports unemployed women into work by providing clothing, advice and interview training. The charity’s London based operation worked with around 2000 women last year and Smart Works also operates in Reading, Edinburgh and Greater Manchester.
Now, Smart Works is aiming to empower unemployed women in Birmingham, from its premises based in Northfield. The free service, which has a 60% success rate, will begin in late July. Each woman who attends Smart Works Birmingham will receive a complete interview outfit, personally styled for them and theirs to keep, followed by one to one interview training. High quality clothing is donated by other women or retailers, and styling and training is delivered by a skilled volunteer team.
Rebecca Debenham, Chair of Smart Works Birmingham and Chief Executive of Northfield Community Partnership said: “Bringing the Smart Works service to Birmingham will provide a valuable and unique service for women in our city. There are many support services available, but nowhere can they get the focused two-hour service to provide them with the right outfit for their job interview, combined with coaching to give them the confidence to succeed. I was so pleased to find the Smart Works service to plug this gap and am looking forward to bringing it to life in our area.”
Volunteers:
If you are passionate about empowering women from the local community, have excellent people skills and either have a passion for fashion or have HR or recruitment experience and are able to commit one day a month or week as a volunteer, Smart Works Birmingham would like to hear from you.
Drop in to the Volunteer Open Day on Tuesday 12th July, 3 – 6pm at Smart Works Birmingham, 695 Bristol Road South, Birmingham, B31 2JT If you can’t make it but would like to offer your help, email birmingham@smartworks.org.uk
Clothing donations:
Smart Works Birmingham are also looking for donations of high quality, clean, interview appropriate women’s clothing in all sizes, bags and shoes. If you have any items that you’d like to donate, get in touch at birmingham@smartworks.org.uk
