University of Worcester project to help students access smart clothing has 'really grown', says founder
'The Wardrobe' was set-up by Janey Robins last summer to create a space where students could use donated clothing so they are dressed correctly for things such as interviews
An initiative by the University of Worcester aiming to help make sure students have access to the right clothing they need when going out on work placements and for interviews has had a "huge impact", its founder has said.
The Wardrobe was started last summer by placements and internships coordinator at the university’s business school Janey Robins after a student approached her asking if she had any professional clothing for an event.
It runs entirely off donations from the community such as suits, trousers and dresses, which then allows students to borrow them for whatever they need them for.
Based in the university's city campus at the business school, Robins has said she has really seen the idea flourish.
"It's really grown over the past year or so," she said.
"Going from a couple of students sort of popping along to use it for a networking event to being spread more widely accessible throughout the university.
"For example, students will pop along before they go onto their teaching placements and have a great afternoon trying on lots of suits, getting them ready to feel empowered to go into those teaching classrooms to start their placements."
Malvern's Morgan Motor Company also recently donated a variety of tops, trousers, shirts, suits, coats and more so that they had more items to put on the clothing rail.
Robins said the donation meant a lot to them and the project continues to be of real help to people.
She said: "It has a huge impact on things, self-esteem, confidence in walking to an interview, and when you enter the workplace and possibly professional work environment for the very first time, to be able to walk in there feeling like you belong is huge.
"So having access to professional clothing which can be quite expensive, we're in a cost of living crisis at the moment, so we really wanted to make sure that this wasn't a barrier and we can push the confidence in the workplace.
"It's so rewarding, and to see something which initially sort of felt like a quite simple concept, to see the impact it has on students as they sort of enter their workforce and start their career journeys with a bit of a boost through their clothing and that sense of empowerment is a great feeling."