Trafford Council has announced a new “groundbreaking” scheme that provides unemployed residents with free outfits for job interviews.
Working Wardrobe is an initiative that appeals to local residents to donate any work clothes or professional attire that they no longer need to those who are struggling to afford outfits for job interviews.
The scheme was launched last Friday by representatives from Groundwork Greater Manchester – which operates Working Wardrobe alongside Trafford Council – and Trafford Housing Trust, who provided a grant of over £85,000.
The service – which also provides job advice and vital interview preparation – will be operating from various ‘pop-up’ locations across the Trafford borough with the main goal of giving individuals “the confidence to get the job that they deserve”.
Donations of “high-quality, work-appropriate clothes”, both for men and women, are being requested in a range of sizes.
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A ground-breaking scheme which provides unemployed residents with free outfits for interviews and has been officially launched in Trafford.
Accessories – including handbags, belts and jewellery
Alongside these clothing items, Trafford Council is also asking for donations of new and unopened cosmetics and make-up, skincare, body and hair products, and men’s shaving products.
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“The project has always been so close to my heart and to set this up from scratch has been amazing,” said Natasha Bernard – Project Lead at Groundwork Greater Manchester, which has so far collected more than £20,000 worth of quality clothing to donate to people ahead of their interviews.
“I feel it’s so important to have services like Working Wardrobe.
“It is meaningful, tailored support to those who need it most and I am extremely proud of what we have achieved so far [so] please support us with your donated clothes.”
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Working Wardrobe is an initiative that appeals to local residents to donate any work clothes they no longer need / Credit: Flickr
Aileen Edmunds – Head of Social Impact at Trafford Housing Trust – added: “It is a real privilege to be able to fund this fantastic project, and meet the passionate and dedicated team at Working Wardrobe.
“At Trafford Housing Trust, we believe that everyone deserves the opportunity to live a better life and seek to fund organisations like Working Wardrobe that make a real difference.”
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Police appeal to find next of kin after man found outside Palace Theatre
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Police are trying to track down the family of a man who died after being found unresponsive outside the Palace Theatre in Manchester.
The man, who has now been named as Jonathan Bernard Carroll, was seen outside the city centre theatre at around 6.30am on Tuesday 12 November.
Emergency services rushed to the scene and Mr Carroll was taken to hospital.
Tragically, the 47-year-old passed away a short time later.
A large cordon was in place on Whitworth Street and Oxford Road while police and security attended the incident.
Greater Manchester Police are now appealing to find his next of kin.
It’s believed that he resided in the Salford area of Greater Manchester.
Anyone with any information should contact the Coroner’s Office on 0161 856 1376.
Greater Manchester public urged to help get people ‘off the streets and on their feet’ before Christmas
Emily Sergeant
Locals are being urged to help get hundreds of people “off the streets and back on their feet” this festive season.
As the temperatures told colder by the day, and Christmas creeps closer and closer, Greater Manchester Mayor’s Charity is bringing back ‘1000 Beds for Christmas’, and the massively-important initiative is aiming to provide 1,000 nights of accommodation to people at risk of homelessness before the big day arrives.
Forming part of the ongoing ‘A Bed Every Night’ scheme, this festive fundraising mission is designed to provide food, shelter, warmth, and dedicated vital wrap-around support for those who need it most.
The charity says it wants to build on the “incredible success of 2023”, which raised more than £55,000 and provided 1,800 nights of accommodation.
Stockport-based property finance specialists, Together – which has supported the campaign for the last two years – has, once again, generously pledged to match every public donation for the first £20,000 raised.
Unfamiliar with the ‘A Bed Every Night’ scheme? Since 2017, when rough sleeping peaked, the initiative has helped ensure a significantly-higher rate of reduction in the numbers of people facing a night on streets in Greater Manchester than seen nationally.
The landmark scheme has given people the chance to rebuild their lives, while also giving them access to key services and opportunities that allows them to stay off the streets for good.
Despite the scheme’s recent success, organisations across Greater Manchester are under “a huge amount of pressure” to meet the demand for their services this winter, and given the current economic outlook, household budgets will continue to be squeezed – leaving people on the sharp end of inequality and poverty.
Emily Sergeant -
15th September 2021 
