Charity partnership to help women dress to impress at interview

Plymouth charity Gifted Women is hosting a pop-up wardrobe backed by local businesses to help women on its employability programme find clothes and confidence ready for work, on Tuesday 4 April.

Six women from the Gifted Women’s empowering group work programme are invited to the special charity pop-up event at the New Continental Hotel, where volunteer stylists from the 1st Impressions charity will help them to select an interview outfit, from pre-loved clothes donated by women who want to help others into employment.

Gifted Women supports women who are overcoming multiple disadvantages into employment, and invited 1st Impressions, based in Bath, after seeing their work to help women create confident first impressions, including Ukranian refugees, carers, women returning to work from a career break, and recently women at a local prison.

Jenny Adjene, Founder and Chair of Trustees at Gifted Women, a Plymouth charity which supports women said: “It's been a real joy to see this group of women growing in confidence over the last few months, discovering their gifts and unearthing some hope for the future. To have this inner work complemented by the chance to feel fabulous on the outside too, will be an incredible opportunity.

“We are all really looking forward to the day with 1st Impressions - I'm sure it will be a huge boost for the women and hope it will help them break down one more barrier in their journey towards employment.” 

The1st Impressions team is bringing a carefully curated wardrobe to the New Continental Hotel and will encourage the women to try on a range of outfits and help them to decide what makes them feel their best. Murray Volkswagen Plymouth are providing transport on the day.  

“We are really looking forward to meeting the Gifted Women group,” said Jane Ellis-Brush, Co-founder of 1st Impressions. “We know from experience that help to find the right outfit that makes you feel comfortable and confident can be transformative. It sounds very simple but it’s a key step in the journey of getting back into work, or having the confidence to make a change.

“This is our first pop-up we have done out of our immediate area, and it’s wonderful to see local businesses supporting the event. I hope this will inspire others to get involved too.”

Gifted Women is for women who have experienced domestic abuse, homelessness, substance misuse and had contact with the criminal justice system. It runs an empowering group work programme, holding space for women to build confidence, grow together in a supportive community and develop the important skills and structure they will need to gain and sustain work.

The charity also matches women with local employers for work experience placements, unlocking the door to employment so that women can move forwards towards the future they hope for. 

For more information about the charities: www.giftedwomen.co.uk and https://www.1stimpressions.org.uk/