A North East charitable company which helps men take the first step on the career ladder has expanded with help from a Tyneside tech firm.
Suitability was set up in 2018 as a Community Interest Company (CIC) by employment advisor Darren Tate, to provide suits for those who couldn鈥檛 afford them.
The CIC, which uses donated clothing, currently has two community hubs, at Anxious Minds in Newcastle and the Sara Project in Southwick, Sunderland, and it has now opening an additional donation point in Gateshead thanks to Team Valley-based SOS Group.
Mr Tate, from Sunderland, said: 鈥淎s an employment advisor with a local employability programme, I had a young gentleman on my caseload who was excited by the prospect of an upcoming job interview but didn鈥檛 have the funds or access to any suitable interview attire.
鈥淚 donated one of my own suits and he went on to his interview looking and feeling confident. As a result, he got the job, and that made me think about all the other men who are potentially in the same position.
鈥淭here鈥檚 a fantastic national charity called Smart Works that helps women in this position but nothing locally for men, so that鈥檚 why I set up Suitability.
鈥淏uying a suit, shirt, tie and shoes can be very difficult if you鈥檙e unemployed or on a low income and yet there are lots of men, like me, who have suits in their wardrobe they no longer use.
鈥淚t might seem a small thing but to feel your best, and to present yourself well, it鈥檚 important to look smart. Donating and recycling suits, ties etc to Suitability is helping open up new job and life opportunities for men who have been previously felt unable to progress simply because their wardrobe was lacking.鈥
SOS Group provides office technology support for clients ranging from local start-ups to the IAAF World Athletics Championships.
As well as providing a Suitability clothing donation point at its headquarters in Gateshead, SOS Group has also offered to provide IT services for the CIC when it finds a dedicated home of its own.
Andrew Skelton, SOS Group director, said: 鈥淲e all know the stresses and anxieties of a job interview and it鈥檚 really important to go in there looking and feeling your best.
鈥淢any of us have suits, shoes and smart shirts in the wardrobe we know we鈥檙e not going to wear again. By donating them to Suitability, you could help empower someone locally who could then successfully interview for a new job and that鈥檚 potentially life-changing.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a fantastic initiative and something we鈥檙e very proud to support. Our SOS Group staff have been delving into the backs of their cupboards to find suitable clothing they can donate and I鈥檓 sure our clients and suppliers will be doing the same.鈥
Suitability accepts referrals for assistance from local DWP and employability providers and, through its community hubs, offers support for men within the North East to look and feel confident to succeed.
The organisation is looking for donations of any spare suits, shirts, ties, shoes, accessories and self-care products for the new donation point, which is at SOS Group, 356a Dukesway Court, Team Valley Trading Estate.
