NEW LIFE FOR CITY SUITS

Owners of redundant suits are being targeted in an ‘amnesty’to put them to good use for jobseekers and the homeless.

Those who have retired or grown out of suits or have “updated” to this year’s fashion are being urged to donate their suits to the cause. Both male and female suits are required. Last years ‘amnesty’ collected 1,000 suits and this year the group are hoping to collect a similar amount.

The ’Thrive’s Birmingham Suit Amnesty was the brainchild of Graham Nicoll, Regional Centre Head  at Barclays Wealth and Fidelis Hynam, Corporate Fundraising Manager, while attending a Thrive forum to explore ideas for simple actions to improve Birmingham.

Graham said: “The 2007 event was very successful and again we are asking people to donate their suits whatever size or shape by bringing them to the Town Hall on the 10 October between 7.30am and 4.30pm. Last year a lot of time, money and effort was spent on dry cleaning the suits so this year we are asking people ideally to get suits cleaned before they bring them in.”

Mailwash Dry Cleaning at Broadway Plaza is running a special offer for suits to be cleaned. It will cost £5 for a suit to be cleaned for the amnesty rather than £11 per suit.”

Kate Bartram from Mailwash said: “This is our way of helping with the amnesty. We will also be acting as a collection point for suits at Broadway Plaza making it quick and easy for busy city workers to donate suits.”

Last year many companies had suit ‘champions’ who co-ordinated the collection of suits. Graham said the system worked well and has asked those interested in taking on this role in their company this year to contact him at graham.nicoll@barclayswealth.com.

General manager of Broadway Plaza where Arthur Webb said: “I knew that last year’s event had been very successful. It’s such a simple idea.  There must be thousands more unwanted suits gathering dust in wardrobes all over the city, with thousands more people with not enough money to buy one.

“Owning a good suit is something many of us take for granted, so to give young people a leg-up on to the employment ladder or something warm to wear is such a gift.”

The Thrive’s Birmingham Suit Amnesty has the backing of a host of local businesses.

To donate a suit and be part of this life changing event, please drop it into the Town Hall on 10 October.

Anyone who can help support the Thrive suit amnesty should get in touch with graham.nicoll@barclayswealth.com or 07775 554215 or  contact Thrive writer Annie Roberts – annr@dircon.co.uk

Anyone wishing to be a company suit champion should get in touch with graham.nicoll@barclayswealth.co.uk or 07775 554215.
Charities who feel they could use the suits to benefit individuals they support should contact: Fidelis Hynam on 0121 333 8539 or 07920 593577.

For further information please contact:

Sindhu Patil or 07967 186822 email lydiapatil@hotmail.com

16/09/2008