An initiative to help university students dress the part for interviews and placements has proven a huge success.
Janey Robins
Placements are a big part of courses at the University of Worcester, and students often enter environments where they’re required to dress smartly.
Shirts, smart dresses, suits, ties and much more has been gifted by members of the community to provide a workplace wardrobe which students who might not have access to professional clothing can access when going to interviews or on placements.
It was the idea of Janey Robins, Placements and Internships Coordinator at the University’s Business School, and so far 90 garments have been loaned to students.
“The idea came when I was speaking to a student who had attended lots of networking events but mentioned they didn’t have many professional outfits to wear,” she said.
“Many people have smart clothes sitting in the wardrobe and getting no use, so this is a chance to get those clothes to people who will appreciate them. It’s also a sustainable way of making sure these garments don’t go to waste.”
Ronke Akintan, President, Worcester Students’ Union, said: “I believe this is a very important and creative project because it supports students in a personal area they may find it hard to talk about.”
The former University of Worcester Law student, who has just started her term as President, said: “This shows the students they’re not alone and that help is available, and knowing their community cares can make a big difference in how confident and supported they feel.”
The project has been so successful, that the team are now asking people to have a look in their wardrobes for smart clothes they no longer wear, which would help a student feel confident heading into an interview or a job.
Janey said: “So many students have benefited already, and so we’re appealing for more people to look in their wardrobes and help us break down the barriers and give everyone the opportunity to succeed.”
Janey added: “We’re focussing on smart clothing only at the moment, so no shoes please! With everyone being a different size they’re a bit trickier to manage.”
If you’ve got some clothes you’d like to donate, you can do so by bringing them to the main reception at the University of Worcester’s City Campus.
If you’d like to contact the team managing the donations you can do so at placements@worc.ac.uk
For information on courses at University of Worcester visit www.worcester.ac.uk or for application enquiries telephone 01905 855111 or email admissions@worc.ac.uk