Dress for Success and WACL Charity Ball

Wednesday morning I attended the ICAP Charity Day

Loved being part of #ICAPCharityDay yesterday with my fellow #DressForSuccess Patrons and Ambassadors who provide business attire, mentoring and interview skills to empower women to return to work.

These women could have been out of the workplace for many reasons; domestic violence, emotional breakdowns and mental health, loss of home, even becoming a new mother and feeling completely out of the loop.  When the Charity asked me to become a Patron of the Greater London Branch I was hesitant but then remembered how I felt after having Morggan, and more so after I had Kamarane.  I now had 2 little girls who needed looking after and found it hard balancing parenting with working and looking after myself.  I almost felt guilty if I bought clothes for myself and didn’t buy clothes for the girls.  The balancing act was a real challenge, and how I wished I’d had someone to turn to and not only confirm that it’s OK to have these feelings but would also give me a few fashion tips as well, even though I was working in a studio and felt invisible – which didn’t add positively to how I was feeling.  

I visited the #ICAPCharityDay as Dress For Success was one of the 10 charities selected to receive a percentage of funds raised that day.  Never been on a stock exchange/traders floor so wasn’t sure what to expect, but what a day!  

Traders dressed as film stars, pop stars and even dinosaurs (yes dinosaurs) trading like crazy with Charity Ambassadors and Patrons joining in the fun.  It was great to see Tim Westwood who I haven’t seen in years, Blue Peter Presenter Konnie Huq, Celebrity Hairstylist Nicky Clarke, BBC Newsreader Hugh Edwards, the crazy but lovable Keith Lemon and footballer Trevor Brooking.

A great day, with a huge amount of funds raised to assist Dress for Success with the work they do, uplifting, empowering and dressing women and their families can then benefit from the positive outcome.

The WACL Ball

On Thursday (6th December) I was asked to host the WACL Ball again this year, and couldn’t refuse. WACL (Women in Advertising and Communications London) is one of the strongest networking groups I have been exposed to and their Christmas Gala is a truly spectacular affair raising funds for Charity, this year’s beneficiaries were MIND and NABS. The highlight last Thursday was Will Young not just performing, but opening up about his mental health issues and MIND giving him the support he needed to continue with his love and his passion… singing.

He was FABULOUS. Donations raised totalled just over £49,000 which is a phenomenal amount of money to go towards supporting the 2 charities.

Can I ask you to keep 2 dates in your diary free for International Women’s Month 2019: Monday 4th March 2019 from 6pm, I’ll be the Dress for Success Keynote Speaker at the Power of Women Awards Ceremony, and will also the Power of Women Panel Discussion on Wednesday 6th March also at 6pm.

For details on the Dress of Success Charity visit www.dressforsuccesgl.org