Guest blog from Katherine Sparkes

JCI Member Katherine Sparkes wants your old suits to help transform lives!!!

Katherine Sparkes with some very nice suits

These days, looking good is half the battle when going for a job interview and most of us will spend hours, if not days, before meeting a potential employer trying to decide on the perfect outfit. We want to look professional and stylish and it’s not unusual for job-seekers to buy a special suit just for the interview. But if you’re homeless or disadvantaged in some way and simply can’t afford a new outfit, how can you make sure you look the part?
Now in its second year, The Suit Amnesty, run by Katherine's CSR consultancy, Flamingo (www.flamingo-creative.co.uk), has been designed to directly tackle this issue. It calls on people right across the country to donate their unwanted workwear and last year's campaign received more than 2,000 suits in response. This incredible generosity even extended to designer items, and celebrities including Gary and Danielle Lineker got involved too.

Katherine and Louise busying sorting out the suits  (Left :Gemma, Right:Katherine)

It directly helped dozens of people get on to the career ladder with 22 charities benefiting. The Suit Amnesty returns on  May 1st, to build on the success of the 2011 campaign and continue to work with those who are doing all they can to find a job but struggle with their wardrobe.

With research revealing that not owning a suit is one of the biggest barriers to hearing the magic words: “You’re hired”, the campaign is a re-gifting project that makes a real difference to lives, and the economy. So, why not delve in to the back of your wardrobe and dig out those unwanted suits. They could be the difference between heading to the office or job club for someone in your community.There are drop off points all-round the UK from hotels to museums and bank to bars.  You can find your nearest drop-off point at www.thesuitamnesty.co.uk.
It’s not too late to become a drop-off point either, so if your place or work would like to take part, please email info@thesuitamnesty.co.uk. Now is the time to get involved. Start rummaging through your wardrobes and drawers and put outgrown or out-of-date work wear to good use!

Flamingo specialises in making Corporate Social Responsibly easy and accessible for SMEs.  Now in its tenth year, the company creates community-focused campaigns that help and inspire others while boosting businesses at the same time. The Suit Amnesty sits alongside other campaigns including The Big Noise (re-gifting unwanted musical instruments to create a global Skype orchestra), Bra Bank (providing 20,000 bras to help women in developing countries start their own businesses), Once Upon A Time (child friendly reading corners to promote literacy) and Project Welly (collecting out grown children’s wellies for UK City Farm project.

Suit beneficiaries Simon (with the beard) and Terry from Emmaus in Bristol 

If you can help please get in touch with Katherine a.s.a.p

Soraya Bowen
Community Director 
Email:soraya.bowen@jciuk.org.uk