Smart Works: The charity boosting empowerment within women

The Smart Works charity is an organisation which provides support to women who are seeking employment and have guaranteed an interview. It aims to provide clothing and interview training to ensure they have the best chance possible to secure the job. It also boosts confidence and assists women in achieving their goals.

Upon arriving at Smart Works, you will be greeted with a two-hour dressing and coaching service for free, with the clothing for you to keep. The dressing consultation suits you into clothes which you will be able to wear for your interview. Once you have successfully been granted a job, you will then receive five additional outfits for when you are at work. The charity also administers key skills and knowledge needed for an interview, which is constructed by trained volunteers.

In January 2019, Meghan Markle became the patron of Smart Works and has since visited some of the outlets to provide support herself. During an interview Meghan said that Smart Works, “reframes the idea of charity as a community: it’s a network of women empowering other women in their professional pursuits.”

Meghan revealed that she asked M&S, John Lewis & Partners, Jigsaw and her friend, who is a designer at Misha Nonoo, to help design a more classical collection to suit the occasion of professional workwear. Other partners include make-up brand Bobbi Brown. Meghan explained how, “there is often a misunderstanding about Smart Work’s being a fashion show of ‘before and after’ where a woman is magically transformed into something better than before, this misses the point… this is a story of Wonder Woman, ready to take on the world in her metaphorical and literal cape.” It aims to make women feel the best versions of themselves to fill them with confident upon their interviews, to give them a better chance at securing the job.

Women are mostly referred to Smart Works by job centres, work programmes, prisons, care homes, homeless shelters and mental health charities. The charity, with a team of 350+ trained volunteers, revealed that 64% of their clients go onto securing the job.

One of the many success stories, Saarah, 24, always dreamed of being an air hostess, however, after news she had be chosen for the job, she was told she would need to wear a pencil skirt and a white shirt. Saarah was not in the financial position to be able to buy these items of clothing. She panicked, she felt embarrassed as she could not afford these items. However, Saarah was recommended to go to Smart Works where her problem was solved. She says, “Hanna (volunteer) really took the time to get to know me and find outfits that fit my personality.” Finding her a match in a Burberry suit, Saarah was completely shocked. It was now hers. Saarah’s childhood consisted of sleeping rough, she left school with no GCSE’s. She was overwhelmed when she secured her dream job and Smart Works helped her rediscover her confidence to be able to carry it out.

Like many others, Cathy found herself redundant and was unable to find another job for over nine months. During this time, she lost all confidence and felt a detachment from society. Other reasons women have turned to Smart Works include having to drop out of education to care for a relative and mental health issues which effected individuals’ abilities to secure work. Smart Works helps women to rediscover their confidence and value their worth in society.

Smart Works doesn’t supply simply second-hand clothes which people have disregarded but is on the look out for clothing which capture a memory which you feel someone else could get use out of. If you would like to donate to this charity, they are looking out for high-quality clothing to add to their collection.