Outfits owned by TV presenter Steph McGovern and other North East celebrities are to be sold at an event hosted by Smart Works Newcastle.
Smart Works Newcastle is the local arm of the charity which helps women get back into work, gain financial independence and transform their lives by providing free interview clothing and coaching. Since its launch in 2018 it has helped more than 1,000 women, including 300 this financial year alone, with around two-thirds of them going on to succeed at a job interview within a month of receiving the charity’s support.
Smartworks – which supports anyone who identifies as female, is unemployed and is over 16 – is set to host two events before the year ends, including Festive Fizz and Fashion on November 17 at John Lewis, where shoppers can snap up clothes donated by local women and retailers, as well as items straight from the wardrobes of local celebrities including Steph McGovern. 100% of proceeds go to Smart Works Newcastle.
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Ms McGovern has donated three suitcases of stock including shoes, jackets, suits, dresses and jewellery.
She said: “I am incredibly lucky to be in a job where I get given lots of clothes. It’s only right that I pass those on and Smart Works Newcastle was the obvious charity to work with. I love what they do to help people into work and support other charities in the region too. They do all the hard work, I’m just the glorified clothes horse.”
Before that event Sara Davies, Dragons’ Den entrepreneur, owner of Crafter’s Companion and North East Ambassador for Smart Works Newcastle, is hosting an event at Wylam Brewery in Newcastle, on October 17.
The My Clothes & My Confidence event, sponsored by Accenture, will see Ms Davies talk through some of the clothes that have been a crucial part of her journey to her success, discussing why she chose those clothes for certain life events, and how wearing those particular pieces influenced her confidence.
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She said: “I am so thrilled to be supporting Smart Works Newcastle with their fantastic My Clothes & My Confidence event. Clothes can have such an impact on the way that we feel and the confidence that we exude and they have certainly played a huge part in my own life.
“As a young girl looking to make it in the business world, I assumed that no-nonsense workwear was my ticket to be taken seriously, but I was wrong. I discovered a love for wonderfully colourful clothes and with it the confidence to be my true authentic self. I can’t wait to spend an evening sharing the clothes that represent such significant times in my life and all of the stories behind them.”
Sophie Milliken, chair of Smart Works Newcastle, added: “We are delighted to have the ongoing support of our ambassador, Sara Davies, and high-profile women from the north east such as Steph McGovern. Supporters help increase awareness of Smart Works Newcastle and also raise valuable funds that enable us to reach our ambitious target of doubling the number of women we provide interview clothing and coaching for across the region.”
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