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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News
Hundreds of staff to strike at four Greater Manchester hospitals next week
Emily Sergeant
Hundreds of staff at four of Greater Manchester’s hospitals are set to strike next week.
More than 350 Northern Care Alliance Foundation Trust (NCA) employees – including nurses, clinical support workers and housekeepers – are walking out for three days next week after union UNISON says an offer to ‘resolve’ a dispute was withdrawn before discussions could take place.
According to the union, the dispute centres on the NCA’s use of an outside agency called NHS Professionals (NHSP) to manage overtime.
When covering staff shortages, workers are entitled to time-and-a-half pay – however in some cases, staff earn less than they would on a normal shift, and some have even been missing out on more than £80 per shift, the union added.
Operating theatre staff were previously on picket lines in June, and although an option to resolve the row was initially tabled by NCA bosses, this has now fallen through.
Hundreds of staff at four of Greater Manchester’s hospitals are set to strike next week / Credit: Stephen Andrews (via Unsplash)
This means that staff at Salford Royal Hospital, Royal Oldham Hospital, Rochdale Infirmary, and Fairfield Hospital in Bury are walking out next week on Monday 24, Wednesday 26, and Friday 28 August.
In particular, staff from all four sites will also gather in Salford on Wednesday (26 August) for a ‘unified’ day of protest.
Understandably, some disruption is expected at each of the hospitals on strike days.
“Those at the top of NCA have shown a lack of leadership and made their disregard for their staff clear,” explained UNISON North West regional organiser, Kevin Dolan.
“A deal was put on the table but taken away before we had chance to talk it over. We are ready to continue negotiations, but it’s obvious NCA has no intention of resolving this.
“This isn’t complicated. Staff are simply asking for what their contract says they’re entitled to. Nothing more.”
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News
Wetherspoons introduces new phone rule at all UK pubs after customers are ‘driven nuts’
Emily Sergeant
JD Wetherspoon has announced a major new phone rule in all its sites across the UK after customers complain of being ‘driven nuts’.
The pub chain – which has nearly 800 branches across the UK – announced earlier this week that it has made the decision to ban people from playing music or videos out of their phones, and from taking calls on loudspeaker.
The ban, which has been introduced effective immediately, follows a rising number of complaints from customers about the noise – with owners saying sounds from smartphones and tablet computers had become an ‘increasing problem’ in recent years.
Wetherspoon founder and chairman, Tim Martin, says he wants Wetherspoon pubs to be ‘an oasis of tranquillity and contemplation’.
Wetherspoons has introduced a new phone rule at all its UK pubs after customers are ‘driven nuts’ / Credit: Allan Rohmer (via Unsplash)
A formal statement from the company announcing the ban reads: “Following complaints from customers, who are being driven nuts by other people’s videos and amplified phone conversations, Wetherspoon has asked customers to switch their phones to silent or to use earphones.”
Tim Martin added: “In order to avoid customers being driven chicken jalfrezi by a cacophony of sound, we are kindly asking phone users to pipe down.”
Wetherspoon’s ban follows a YouGov poll conducted last year questioning public opinion on a proposition made by the Liberal Democrats of introducing fines of up to £1,000 for ‘headphone dodgers’ who play music out loud on buses and trains.
62% of people, on average, said they would back this move if it was introduced.
The poll, which surveyed 6,815 British adults, found that almost three-quarters of those over 65 would support the fines, while those aged between 18 and 24 were split 47% to 43% in favour of it.
Early public reactions to Wetherspoon’s ban appears to be overwhelmingly positive.
Emily Sergeant -
15th September 2021 
