Smart Works Reading Volunteers
A non-profit organisation that provides coaching for out-of-work women to get jobs has nominated their volunteers for the Volunteer/s of the Year award sponsored by AB Walker.
The nominator from Smart Works Reading said 67 per cent of their clients find a job in the first month of their visit and “the over 100 volunteers that support our work are paramount in our service delivery.
“We provide coaching and dressing for out-of-work women at any stage in their life, career and journey to employment.
“Our coaches and dressers are all volunteers. They are the 'boots on the ground' workers that work directly with our clients. They provide an ear, an expert opinion and a keen eye.”
They said of the volunteers: “They help with conceptualising a career journey for those at the start of the process, helping with CVs and the application process. They provide specialised techniques for those with upcoming interviews.
“They curate exactly the outfit a woman needs to represent her best self when attending an interview. And they help our services go one step further and pull together the perfect capsule wardrobe for those who secure a job of which 67 per cent of our clients do within the first month of their visit with us.”
The volunteers ensure clients are well prepared to show up comfortably and professionally for their first month without the worry of waiting for their first pay cheque.
“Our volunteers go above and beyond with back-to-back sessions, taking on board key information about life experiences and job specifics and turn it all into a positive and confident woman, fully prepared for the next step of her journey.
“They support some of the most vulnerable of our community, ready to answer new and sometimes difficult questions and find exactly the next step that a client needs.
“They are the backbone of our work. They are also always at our fundraising events and our outreach work. They are the face of our organisation and work tirelessly to provide a much-needed service to our community.”