Smart Works Charity

We're hiring! Smart Works is seeking a Head of Corporate Partnerships (maternity cover) 💙 We are looking for an experienced and motivated fundraising professional to join our dynamic team on a maternity cover for one year. This role will lead the Charity’s corporate partnerships strategy, significantly growing our partnership portfolio across sectors including finance, tech, insurance and more. If you have a passion for empowering women, and want to make a tangible difference to the lives of unemployed women across the UK, you can apply at the link below: https://lnkd.in/eSzzVd-g

✨ Ending the Year on a High at Smart Works Reading! ✨ As 2024 draws to a close, we were honoured to welcome HRH Princess Beatrice to Smart Works Reading during her visit with Berkshire Community Foundation. Her visit highlighted BCF’s vital initiative, Ending Violence Against Women and Children, which supports local charities like Smart Works. Accompanied by BCF CEO Geraldine Lejeune OBE DL, HRH Princess Beatrice met Helen Francis, Chair of Trustees at Smart Works Reading, and Tiffanie Darke, our Interim CEO. HRH Princess Beatrice also met several of our wonderful volunteers and even helped a client select an outfit to wear to an upcoming job interview. We are so grateful for BCF’s ongoing support and the opportunity to showcase how our services empower women to transform their lives and careers. Here’s to ending the year on a high, and to continuing to make a difference in 2025 and beyond. 💙

Thank you so much to everyone who attended our first ever Carol Concert last week. It was a joyous and magical evening, and we were thrilled to be joined by so many members of our wonderful community ✨🎶 Thanks to the generosity of everyone involved, we are delighted to share that we raised an incredible £37,000! We cannot thank our special guests and performers enough for making the night so spectacular; Alexandra Burke, Emma Barnett, Jennifer Saunders, and The Disney Voices Choir. We must also thank our generous sponsors and supporters; Castlelake, Healey’s Printers, Kylie Minogue Wines, Morrisons, Bobbi Brown Cosmetics, Orelia, Elizabeth Scarlett, Smiling Wolf, and all of our wonderful Silent Auction supporters. This was such a special moment to round off a spectacular year, and we look forward to many more magical moments like this in 2025 💙

A huge thank you to Niamh and the team at Sigma Capital Group Limited for their incredible support of our Big Give campaigns across the UK 💙✨

This Giving Tuesday we’re delighted to announce that £5 from every sale on our website today will be donated to Smart Works Charity. We’re proud to have worked with the charity as an official Wardrobe Partner for three years now. Supporting them in their mission to empower unemployed women to reach their full potential, secure employment and change the trajectory of their lives through interview coaching and dressing.    Playing a small part in the work they do is why we have committed to donating over 1500 handbags to date, as well as volunteering and taking part in fashion pop-ups. We look forward to our continued work together to support women and champion positive change in their lives.

Typical UK consumers wear 50% or less of their wardrobe regularly. 🤔Yet, this Black Friday weekend alone, we’re set to spend an estimated £670 million! That’s a lot of clothes that might just end up collecting dust. Instead, think and shop Smart this Black Friday! Shop mindfully, buy what you truly love, and donate what you no longer need. For every new item you buy, donate one you no longer wear. It’s a simple way to declutter and give back! Or if your wardrobe is already clutter free and you’re spending on something you really want or need, consider donating 1% of your clothing spend to Smart Works. That’s just £1 for every £100 spent, which could help us support tens of thousands of women for job interviews and new opportunities. By doing this you’re maximising your purchase power by directly supporting women into employment. Donate clothes: https://lnkd.in/db72Hki6 Donate funds: https://lnkd.in/d5aMGH7n and help us create positive change this Black Friday. 💙 #BlackFriday #SustainableClothing #MindfulShopping #Overconsumerism #ClothingWaste #DonateClothes #CharitableGiving #GivingTuesday

Anna Hemmings announced as new Smart Works CEO   We are delighted to announce that Anna Hemmings has been appointed as Smart Works Chief Executive Officer.   Anna joins Smart Works with over 20 years’ experience of driving transformational change, implementing strategic vision and increasing impact, most recently at the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services and GamCare. She will lead the senior leadership team and work closely with interim CEO Tiffanie Darke, through the next weeks of transition, ensuring that Smart Works continues to empower women, and give them the confidence they need to unlock their potential, get the job, and transform their lives.   Anna said: “I’m delighted to be joining Smart Works as their new CEO. I have followed the organisation with interest since its inception, and their innovative approach focusing on both skills and confidence, speaks to an issue I’m passionate about - empowering women in the workplace.   Many women, particularly those entering the job market for the first time or returning following a break in paid work, face significant barriers in gaining the skills, experience and confidence to succeed in interviews and thrive in professional roles. Providing women the holistic support they need is critical to helping them reach their full potential, enabling them to flourish.   The role is a fantastic opportunity to work together with the Smart Works team, volunteers and supporters to help reach more women and grow impact in coming years.”   Tiffanie Darke, interim CEO at Smart Works said: "It has been a huge privilege to lead Smart Works in this interim role. I am thrilled Anna has been appointed to steward the next stage of growth for this fantastic charity, as she has the ambition and the experience to meet the challenges and huge opportunities that lie ahead for us."   Together with the Trustees of Smart Works, our clients, staff, and volunteers, we would like to thank Tiffanie for her leadership of Smart Works for the past six months, and extend our further thanks to the entire community for their invaluable support of Smart Works and of the service we provide to unemployed women.

As we continue our mission to support 10,000 women annually by 2025, we're thrilled to announce that we're one step closer to opening the newest Smart Works center in Bristol, where over 20,000 women are seeking employment! Our recent event at Harvey Nichols was a fantastic opportunity to connect with potential partners, volunteers, trustees, and clients who share our passion for empowering women. 🎉 Join us in making a difference! Learn more about how you can get involved: https://lnkd.in/efbnzvWM and follow Smart Works Bristol on LinkedIn and Instagram for updates! Together, we can create meaningful change for women across the UK! 💪✨ #SmartWorksBristol #WomenEmpowerment #CommunitySupport

As we celebrate Trustees’ Week 2024, we want to take a moment to honour our nearly 70 trustees across the UK who dedicate their time, wisdom, and energy to Smart Works. Over the past 11 years, their leadership has empowered us to support over 40,000 women in their journeys toward employment and self-confidence. We owe our strategic direction, increased awareness, and essential funding to their time and dedication. Thank you for your time, commitment, and initiatives that enrich each and every Smart Works center. It is a privilege to work alongside you as we build brighter futures for our clients while enjoying every moment of this journey together. #TrusteesWeek #SmartWorks #WomenEmpowerment

Thanks to Computacenter Volunteering days, I have just had the opportunity to spend a wonderful morning with colleagues at Smart Works Charity sorting donated clothing. Smart Works Charity is a UK charity that provides women with the clothing, coaching and confidence they need to succeed in interviews and get the job. In the past decade they have helped more than 30,000 women ahead of their interviews and are rightfully proud that 69% of clients get the job within a month of their appointment with Smart Works Charity. 👏🏻 #SmartWorksCharity #Computacenter #Volunteering #Womenempoweringwomen Emma Beattie Sarah Noble Andrianna Themistocli Sarah Dial MCIPD SMACCPH Charlotte Hope