FTCT Director, Anna, welcomed guests from more than 30 top fashion retailers including David Walker Smith, Selfridges, Mary Homer, Topshop and Nick Robertson, ASOS, to the event, before discussing the role which both FTCT and Dame Kelly’s charity, the Dame Kelly Legacy Trust play in, ‘Improving Young People’s Skills and Self-Belief’.

Guests heard a moving speech from Tia,13yrs, FTCT Beneficiary, whose father, Andy, applied for a grant for his daughter, through his role as a general assistant for Tesco, before hearing the truly inspirational Dame Kelly discussing her path to success and the people in her life who helped her along the way.

David Shepherd, FTCT Trustee  said about the event:

“As a small team, we face a huge challenge in reaching the children of employees in UK fashion and textile companies who need our support. By having both Dame Kelly Holmes and Tia speak at our event today we have been able to show guests both the relevance of FTCT for their employees and the vital role which FTCT has to play in unlocking life’s chances for children across the UK.”

Click here to see more photos from the event…

Hear what people said about the event:

“Thanks you much again for another lovely breakfast both girls were inspiring!”-Fiona Holmes, MD, Gray and Osbourn

“Thoroughly enjoyable and really quite inspiring; Your cause is a really fantastic one”-Lucie Bartlett Project Manager, Fashion Fringe, IMG Fashion

“It was not only a lovely way to start the work day, but truly inspirational to hear from Dame Kelly Holmes and see firsthand the outcome of the work that FTCT does.”-Caroline Gladstone Director, Fashion Fringe and Emerging Talent, IMG Fashion

“Great event I feel inspired!”-Alan Hawkins, Chief Executive Officer, BIRA

This week sees the launch of FTCT’s brand new quarterly e-newlstter, where you can read all our latest news-from success stories and events, to grants updates and advice.

It’s our way of keeping you up to date with what’s been happening in FTCT’s world over the past few months and updating you on any events or volunteering opportunities we have coming up, which you get involved with.

To make sure you don’t miss out- Subscribe to our newsletter
and help to spread the message about FTCT,  by sharing it among your friends and colleagues.

Enjoy!

In 10 words or less, tell us what you do at FTCT.

Write words, take pictures and tell stories to promote FTCT.

What makes you passionate about FTCT?

Having previously worked in fashion I am incredibly passionate about the industry and those who work in it. When I came across FTCT, I was amazed that I had never heard of the such a unique charity, which is totally exclusive to the industry. That’s when I knew I had to do something do change that.

What is the best part of your job?

When a phonecall comes through from a parent or carer seeking help, who has seen one of our adverts in a magazine or a poster in their staffroom, it gives me a real boost. Knowing that every single, leaflet, blog post, advert or article is bringing us one step closer to reaching a child who needs our help, keeps me motivated every day.

It’s not safe for Thomas to ride an ordinary bike, incase he suffers from a seizure while in motion. With the aid of a specially adapted trike, Thomas would be able to join his family in their favourite hobby. Specialist equipment such as this, is often costly and not available on the NHS.

After seeing an FTCT poster on her staff noticeboard, Thomas’ mum Sam, an employee at Debenhams, called FTCT to see if we could help. FTCT was able to issue a grant to part fund the purchase of a trike for Thomas, who is now leader of the pack on the family’s weekend adventures.

“The difference the grant has made to our family is far more than just financial. It has given us peace of mind, knowing that we can continue our family bike rides, knowing that Thomas is safe.”   Sam, mum of Thomas.

In 10 words or less, tell us what you do at FTCT.….
Talking to families, helping them get the grants they need.

What makes you passionate about FTCT?
Before joining FTCT I was working in frontline services as a support worker; helping families in person and sometimes applying for grants on their behalf. It’s amazing to now be in a position to give families the grants they so desperately need for their children. We’re such a tiny organisation but I’m constantly reminded what an enormous difference we’re able to make to the children and families that approach us and that makes me really passionate about what we do!

What is the best part of your job?
When I can call a family I’ve been working with for months to make sure they make the strongest case possible and tell them that we’ve done it! FTCT can give the grant that will change their child’s life. There’s nothing that beats that feeling.

Founded in 1739, Coram is one of the UK’s first children’s charities and offers a range of free support to families with young children, by providing services and support throughout all children’s centres in the London Borough of Ealing.

By working one-to-one with families, Coram’s Outreach Workers help families build support networks by using their local children’s centre. They also offer advice and support on a wide range of issues including parenting and child development, volunteering and employment, and housing and benefits.

By raising awareness of FTCT’s grants among the centres’ staff- including the types of support we can give and what makes the parent or carer eligible to apply- we hope to be able to begin to support some of the families with whom they are working, whose child has a need, which they themselves cannot meet.

Clare Welsby, Children’s Centres Strategic Manager, Ealing Council said:“It’s great to have met the team from FTCT. This was a charity that I knew nothing about which has a long track record in helping families. This gives us a great opportunity to raise awareness of the grants available to Children’s Centres in Ealing, which will hopefully lead to more families being supported. I would really encourage our teams to get in touch”

We would like to say a big thank you to Clare, Charlene and all the team at Ealing Outreach Service for inviting us in to talk to them. We look forward to our continued partnership with Coram in the coming months.

If you know someone whose child may need our support, please get in touch. Getting help from FTCT is really simple- all you have to do is give us a call.

In 10 words or less, tell us what you do
at FTCT?
I work closely with my team and the Trustees to make sure that everything we do, is on track with what we want to achieve. (Oh yes, I also give our best supporters a pink button badge, so if you’ve been given one, you’re doing a fabulous job – thank you!). Oops – over 10 words!

What makes you passionate about FTCT?
In the last three years, we’ve changed our name, launched a brand new website, appeared in magazines, been at trade shows, talked to those in the industry and loads more. We started from zero; what makes me passionate is knowing what more we can achieve …watch this space.

What is the best part of your job?
Without doubt, meeting some of our parents and carers who joined us recently for a feedback session. When we’re working in the office, it’s very easy to get immersed in paperwork, statistics and reports. But it’s our parents and carers are the reason for the charity – listening to the difference that our grant has made, makes me smile from ear to ear.

Watch out for next weeks team profile blog, featuring Francesca, FTCT grants co-ordinator …

Sad news this week as luxury clothing retailer Aquascutum, best known for its trenchcoats, was placed into administration shutting its factory in Corby, making more than 100 staff redundant.

Founded in 1851, just 2 years before our charity,  Aquascutum, the clothing retailer that dressed Humphrey Bogart and Cary Grant, collapsed into administration on Tuesday after making “significant losses”.

Each year, our grants provide practical support for families across the UK fashion and textile industry who, like those employed at Aquascutum’s Corby factory, face financial hardship as a result of redundancy. In most cases these grants help to provide  life’s essentials such as clothing or bedding for their child, helping to bridge the gap, while the family get themselves back on their feet.

As a small team we are able to react quickly and in most cases can turn applications around in 14 days.

If you or someone you know might need our help, please give us a call on 020-7170-4117 and Francesca, Grants co-ordinator can have a chat about your situation and suggest ways in which we might be able to help. Don’t forget-we are here to help you!

For information about our grants, please visit the grants section on our website or email Francesca on grants@ftct.org.uk.

Yesterday, we had the pleasure of welcoming 15 of our parents and carers to the FTCT office, for our bi-annual feedback session.

During the 2 hour session, parents and carers gave feedback on their experiences of FTCT, from the application process to our promotional material, while commenting on what they think we can do better.

These feedback sessions are completely invaluable; giving us the chance to hear what our parents and carers feel about the charity and its processes, finding out what we can improve on, to ensure we are giving all our existing and future parents and carers the best level of support we can. Plus, it is a great way for our parents and carers to meet each other and share their stories and experiences. One parent commented after the session, “I don’t feel isolated anymore”.

We would like to say a big thank you to everyone who came along to yesterday’s session. It was so lovely for us to meet so many of you for the first time and we look forward to keeping you up to date with all the changes we make based on your feedback!

Don’t worry if you couldn’t make it to yesterdays session, there is still time to give us your feedback. Simply click here for photos and to a full summary of the session and email Anna or Francesca with any comments you would like to add.

Our next parents/carers feedback session will be on Thursday 29th November and we would love all our parents and carers to join us. If you think you might be able to join us for the session, all you have to do is drop a quick email to Francesca on grants@ftct.org.uk and we will add you to the list.

Here’s how one of our parents and carers felt about the session:

“To meet you was a lovely feeling after only having spoken on the phone, and to thank you in person for all the help you have given me and my son …The feedback afternoon seemed to go by so fast the time just disappeared, you are a wonderful team to me you are real, unthreatening and caring.Meeting other parents was lovely too as I realised the similarities we all shared.” Cathy-mum of John.

It’s so lovely for us to receive this amazing artefact from our past and clearly demonstrates FTCT’s long history of supporting children of people working within this industry. The collection box itself is wonderfully retro, featuring the cult cartoon characters, Huckleberry Hound and Yogi Bear. It even has a note on the back documenting monies collected over the years!

We would like to say a huge thank you to Heather Winslade, who found this wonderful treasure in her stockroom and took the time to ensure its safe return, complete with its contents- £1.72 in donations!

If you would like to host a one of our brand new FTCT collection pots in your shop or business, please contact jill@ftct.org.uk and start collecting today!