Birmingham Suit Amnesty Friday 12th October 2007

What did you wear to the interview to get your job?

I’m pretty sure you wore a suit! I’m also fairly sure you will probably have at least one suit sitting in your wardrobe gathering dust.

Well how about donating this suit to someone who could truly benefit from it?

Birmingham Suit Amnesty – Friday 12th October 2007

On Friday 12th October 2007 we people from across the business community in Birmingham to donate any suits they no longer require. These suits are going to be collected at the ICC (Hall 6). They will then be distributed through our charity partners to people who will benefit from your suit.

It may just help someone to make the right impression at a job interview.

Your suit may benefit:

• A school leaver trying to get their first job
• An unemployed individual trying to get back into work
• A homeless person trying to get a foot back on the employment ladder

Are you willing to make the simple gesture of donating a suit to help someone not as fortunate as you get a step up in life?

Many companies across Birmingham are going to be arranging for suits to be collected throughout the week of the Amnesty (8th – 12th October) and these suits can then either be dropped off at the ICC from 07.30 – 15.00 - or we can arrange for the suits to be collected by our dry cleaning partner Mail Wash.

If you wish to locate your companies Champion or volunteer to act as a Champion for this initiative simply email: graham.nicoll@barclays.com.

If you are a charity wishing to get involved then simply call Fidelis Hynam on 07739 728566.

Make sure you put any suits aside ready for the suit amnesty.

An Amnesty Suitable for Sharing

SUPPORT for Thrive’s Birmingham Suit Amnesty will help men and women who want to make a difference to their lives.

The initiative to provide suits to men and women looking for jobs, who may not be able to afford their own outfits, takes place on Friday, October 12th at the ICC.

The simple idea has evolved from a Thrive forum brain-storming session. Volunteers including Graham Nicoll, an associate director at Barclays Wealth, and corporate fundraiser Fidelis Hynam pledged to make the amnesty happen and other business people have now come on board.

One is Kate Bartram, who founded the washing and dry cleaning service Mailwash, based in the city’s Broadway Plaza in 2004.

The company is a perfect partner for the amnesty that is calling on people to donate suits that may no longer suit their style but could help someone else make the right impression.

Kate said: “What struck me about the Amnesty when I was first approached is how simple an idea it is, yet no one had ever thought about doing it before. There must be thousands of unwanted suits gathering dust in wardrobes all over the city, with thousands more people with not enough money to afford to buy one.

“Owning a good suit is something most of us take for granted, so to give young people a step closer towards getting on to the employment ladder is such a gift.

“Mailwash will be spending the week of the Amnesty rushing around the city collecting suits – male and female – from office premises. All those that are not in a fit state to be donated will be dry cleaned by us, free of charge, and sent on direct to a number of partner charities.”

She added: “Birmingham is a city that has been very kind to me, and to pass that on with an initiative like this is fantastic. To get involved in one of the city’s largest collective charity efforts is a privilege and I just hope the Suit Amnesty will go from strength to strength in years to come. Mailwash will certainly be delighted to be on board!”

Charities are finalising plans with the organisers to ensure the most appropriate suits are donated to each organisation.

Fidelis said since the idea was first discussed there was a clear understanding that the whole process had to be kept simple and straight forward.

She said: “The suit amnesty is just one part of the jigsaw. There is always a lot more people can do but we want to show how a simple idea can work in practice.

“We are hoping people will see the value in donating a suit that is still presentable and would make the right impression at an interview.”

People prepared to ‘champion’ the idea in their own firms are still coming forward and the hope is that others will get in touch to lend their support.

Anyone who can help support the Thrive suit amnesty should get in touch with graham.nicoll@barclays.com or contact Thrive writer Annie Roberts – annr@dircon.co.uk or 01536 263472.

Charities who want more information should contact Fidelis Hynam on 07739728566.

Birmingham Suit Amnesty goes visual

Jon Perks and Darren Thomas at the Birmingham Post have been ading their weight to the Birmingham Suit Amnesty by designing the logo and posters to promote the initiative. See the examples posters below.

DIG out those unwanted suits that still ooze style but may not be perfect for your wardrobe – the Thrive Suit Amnesty is just weeks away.

The initiative to provide suits to men and women looking for jobs, who may not be able to afford their own outfits, was officially launched late last week – weeks ahead of the amnesty that takes place on Friday, October 12th at the ICC.
The driving forces behind the amnesty are Graham Nicoll, an associate director at Barclays Wealth, and corporate fundraiser Fidelis Hynam who were inspired at a Thrive forum brain-storming session.

Graham explained that the suit amnesty idea evolved when a discussion began about the number of suits many business people own but rarely wear.
“The idea was borne out of a thought that those in the fortunate position of working in business could actually make a difference to people who were looking for jobs by donating their suits,” said Graham, who is on the committee of Coventry & Warwickshire Prince’s Trust.

“Very often there are people with less privileged backgrounds who don’t have access to funds and are trying to get a job but want and need some help to get on the ladder.”

One of the first to pledge his support is Iain Ross-Mackenzie, Operations Director at Mechu, who dug out a favourite suit to donate to the amnesty.
He said: "I think the amnesty is absolutely fantastic – everyone in business should donate a suit. Along the years there have been times when I have been strapped for cash, I think everyone has at some point. "Everybody should donate a suit – it might change someone's life." The suit that Iain is donating certainly changed his life.

He recalled: “This suit is a Dehavilland suit, I got it from somewhere like Moss Bros, it was something like £150; I bought it for an interview at Live Café when I first started working for the management company that became Living Ventures, owners of The Living Room. ”It was bought in May 2000 for an interview in June 2000; I drove to Manchester to meet a guy on a building site and the interview lasted 35 seconds – he came down a ladder with a hard hat on, he said 'Hi, my name's Tim, this is my building – can you fill it?' I showed him my ideas, he looked at them and said 'yes, look forward to seeing you next week, you look fantastic' and went back up the ladder.

“My father always said 'for interviews, always be smart'; first impression last." The idea has already caught the imagination of businesses – Mailwash, the Broadway Plaza based dry cleaners, have pledged to ensure the suits are in first class condition before being delivered to charities.

Final decisions still need to be taken on which charities will receive the suits and it is hoped any organisations who want to be part of the amnesty should get in touch.

Fidelis said it was important that the idea is kept simple and straight forward.
“The suit amnesty is just one part of the jigsaw. There is always a lot more people can do but we want to show how a simple idea can work in practice,” she said.

“We are hoping people will see the value in donating a suit that is still presentable and would make the right impression at an interview.”
People prepared to ‘champion’ the idea in their own firms are still coming forward and the hope is that others will get in touch to lend their support.

Anyone who can help support the Thrive suit amnesty should get in touch with graham.nicoll@barclays.com or contact Thrive writer Annie Roberts – annr@dircon.co.uk or 01536 263472.

Charities who feel they could use the suits to benefit individuals they support should contact Fidelis Hynam on 07739728566.

Donate a Suit - the original concept!

AN initiative to provide suits to jobhunters, who may not be able to afford their own outfits, is gathering momentum after a Thrive forum.

Graham Nicoll, an associate director at Barclays Wealth, was one of many ideas suggested during the session.

He is now coordinating the idea with corporate fundraiser Fidelis Hynam to see what might be possible.

Graham explained that the suit amnesty idea came to him when he realised many business people have suits they rarely wear hanging in their wardrobes that would be appreciated by others looking to get into work.

“The idea was borne out of a thought that those in the fortunate position of working in business could actually make a difference to people who were looking for jobs by donating their suits,” said Graham, who is on the committee of Coventry & Warwickshire Prince’s Trust.

“Very often there are people with less privileged backgrounds who don’t have access to funds and are trying to get a job but want and need some help to get on the ladder.”

A group of people have already met since the forum to discuss the best way forward for the amnesty, which is likely to take place in the autumn.

Fidelis said it was important that the idea is kept simple and straight forward.
“The suit amnesty is just one part of the jigsaw. There is always a lot more people can do but we want to show how a simple idea can work in practice,” she said.

“We are hoping people will see the value in donating a suit that is still presentable and would make the right impression at an interview.”

Talks are underway with other professionals who will need to lend their support to make the idea happen. These include the services of professional dry cleaners and a courier service that might be required once the suits have been dropped off at a central point in Birmingham.

Discussions are under way with charities and organisations that might be able to distribute the suits to individuals.

People prepared to ‘champion’ the idea in their own firms are coming forward and the hope is that others will get in touch to lend their support.

Graham said: “In the coming weeks we will be finalising details but we are delighted that an idea like a simple suit amnesty can capture the imagination of different people and we can come together to make it work.”