The Birmingham Suit Amnesty yesterday was a massive success.
It was such a simple concept. A few young professionals through the Thrive! CSR programme wondered what the major barriers were for young people from challenging backgrounds in applying for their first job, and particularly a job in the professions.
They thought being able to wear a suit to an interview or first day at work was critical.
And so the Suit Amnesty was born. Through the Birmingham Post and our own contacts we let professionals across the city know that we would collect suits on 12th October for donation to a range of charities and social enterprises including St Basils and WAITS. In a show of enormous civic pride and generosity, Kate Bartram of Mailwash offered to dry clean every suit that we received.
And so yesterday came. And we were almost overwhelmed. Suits came to the ICC by car, van and by hand. By mid afternoon we had over 700 suits, almost equally divided between men and women, and some of them were of the highest possible quality.
But the best moment of the day was when some boys from St Basils came in to select a suit that they could wear. Initially a bit diffident in their hoodies and trainers, just to see these guys standing tall in a nearly new suit that fitted them well was a real joy. That was what this programme was about. It will give them, and so many like them, pride, ambition, and self-belief. And perhaps the confidence to apply for and hold down their first job.
A massive thank you to everyone who took part in the Birmingham Suit Amnesty, but particularly to Graham Nicoll and Fidelis Hynam without whom it simply couldn't have happened.
