Betty Jackson CBE to front BBC Radio 4 Appeal for Smart Works 

Distinguished fashion designer Betty Jackson CBE will be broadcasting a week-long charity appeal on BBC Radio 4 to raise funds for Smart Works. 

Duchess of Sussex at Smart Works

Smart Works, who recently announced the Duchess of Sussex Megan Markle as their Royal Patron. The Duchess’s decision to support Smart Works reflects her passion in supporting women, and her commitment will help women in need across the UK.

Betty Jackson is a long-standing patron and a dedicated champion of Smart Works.

Smart Works Greater Manchester has been operating for over three years and every year, they support over 400 women, helping them to feel confident, look fabulous, succeed at their job interview and transform their lives. Over 60% of Smart Works clients get the job within one month of their appointment.

The BBC appeal for Smart Works aims to raise vital funds to help get more women back into employment.

The appeal will air at 07:54 and 21:25 on January 27 and 15:27 on 31 January 2019, putting the charity into the spotlight all over the UK.

The appeal focuses on Smart Works client Shana, who was determined to get back to work after quitting her nursing diploma to care for her dying grandfather. Shana felt she was letting down her children by failing to get back into work. Smart Works gave Shana the confidence and self-belief she needed succeed at interview.

Betty Jackson, Smart Works Patron said:  

“For me, it’s always been important that fashion works and here is complete evidence that it does. It is magical to see when a client walks in having lost her confidence wanting to get a job and being cared for and looked after by our trained volunteers. It is so simple because wearing the right clothes changes her whole attitude to herself. She looks in the mirror and says ‘Yes I can do this. I can do this because I look and feel the part.’”

The appeal will help Smart Works take their service to more women across the UK. A Gift of £34 could coach a client. £72 will coach and dress her, giving her confidence to succeed at interview.

More details on how to give are online – BBC Radio 4 Appeal – or call 0800 404 8144.

Smart Works Greater Manchester is part of Smart Works Charity, which has 7 centres around the UK.  On the 10th January 2019,

Betty Jackson is one of the UK’s top fashion designers, designing clothes for both women and men. Betty has run her own fashion business Betty Jackson Ltd for over 30 years, as well as launching the Autograph collection for Marks and Spencer in 2000 and more recently Betty Jackson Black for Debenhams. Betty has won numerous British and international design awards. She was on the Board of Trustees of Creative Skillset and served as Master of the RSA’s Royal Designers for Industry from 2015 – 2017.