The Suit Works Clothing and Support Fund!

Aim

The Suit Works is in need of good quality clothing and resources for our clients and we require funding to provide this to all who need it!

What do we do?

We give people the tools to succeed!

At The Suit Works we increase employability through providing personal styling, interview coaching and work experience. Often people experiencing unemployment will not have the finances to be able to afford to buy interview clothes or appropriate clothes to wear to work. This need has intensified because of the cost-of-living crisis which has been stimulated by Covid-19. Furthermore, people who are experiencing unemployment will often need interview coaching to help them be interview ready- we provide this after providing people with personal styling to help them feel more confident. For clients who are struggling to be successful at interview, we offer them volunteering placements to support them with developing their skills and confidence to maximise their future chances of securing employment.

How do we do this?

We provide a welcoming, friendly environment where clients come in for a styling session and are given a suitable outfit for their interview, as well as some thoughtful advice, and if needed interview training skills. We receive referrals from over 30 charities and organisations around the Sheffield City Region and have seen over 800 clients to date. 

A client’s appointment at The Suit Works lasts for about an hour. Volunteers help them to find clothing that fits well, looks great and instills confidence. The service is free and they get to keep the clothes.  We can also help with providing a capsule wardrobe, if smart clothing is required, once the client has successfully found work.

The service is an important step in removing a basic barrier to employment and helping people back into work.

The CEO of The Suit Works, Faye Mellors says: “It’s absolutely amazing to see the change in front of your eyes, to see someones confidence sky rocket in such a short amount of time. Some people might not be successful on their first or their second interview, but this gives them the potential, they leave here with that absolute can do attitude. We are not doing the work for them, we are empowering them to succeed."

What will we spend the money on? 

Whilst we receive LOTS of clothing donations, we often run out of the all important items. Having the reach we do, we see lots of people and have to cater for every single amazing individual that comes through the door. Sometimes this means that clothing donations are not enough and we have to raise funds to access specialist clothing or items we don't hold. We want every single person who walks through our doors to feel confident, worthy and ready to reach their potential. We don't want anyone to leave disappointed because we haven't been able to supply something for their body shape, size or personal preferences. Due to a lack of funding for this, we want to create our own fund that will allow us to cater for EVERYONE!

This project successfully funded on 12th April 2022