Need a helping hand? Re-launched fashion and textiles charity is here to help!

The Fashion & Textile Children’s Trust is launching a new campaign to promote its educational grants for the children of people working in the UK fashion and textiles sector.

Backed by some of the biggest names in the sector, including Debenhams, Marks & Spencer and John Lewis, the charity is keen to reach out to the fashion and textile community to find cases of particular need that it may be able help with.

Established in 1853, the charity is modernising with a change of name (up until November 2010 it was the Textile Industry Children’s Trust), as well as an updated brand and a new website with links to Twitter and Facebook.

The Trust supports children with special talents – sports, music, dance or drama – and provides tutorial support to children with special educational and physical needs. The support can be a simple grant for equipment, a welfare grant, or continuing support at special or boarding schools.

Anna Pangbourne, Director of the Fashion & Textile Children’s Trust, says:
“In the coming year, we have a huge challenge to reach the children of employees in UK companies who need our support. We want to be able to help families and make a difference… we’re here to help!”

Eric Musgrave, CEO of UK Fashion and Textile Association, says:
“The Fashion & Textile Children’s Trust is a gem of a charity. It’s also our gem – backed by the industry, supporting the children of the people working in the industry. I’d urge everyone to get behind them and support them in the valuable work they are doing.”

Educational grants are available to help the children of people who are working (or have previously worked) in fashion in its broadest sense – including womenswear, menswear and childrenswear at all levels, and including lingerie and hosiery. There is also help available for people in footwear and all of the textile sectors including homeware.

The Fashion & Textile Children’s Trust supports the children of people from all sides of the business - whether an individual has worked in a shop, in a factory, in the head office, in a call centre or in a warehouse.

Grants may in some cases be available for the official carer of a child, who may not be the parent of the child.

For further information/pictures please contact Ben Caspersz on 07738 195625 or ben@claremont.org.uk or visit www.ftct.org.uk