One of the MP’s for Reading has visited the new home of a charity set up to help women succeed in their professional lives.

Smart Works Reading was established in October 2015 to help give unemployed women the confidence they need to succeed in job interviews, and giving them a boost by providing business clothes.

The charity recently moved into new offices in Enterprise House at 95 London Street, Reading.

Trustees and volunteers welcomed Alok Sharma, the Conservative MP for Reading West to tour their new base on Friday, March 26.

Mr Sharma served as the President of the COP 26 climate conference, and volunteers for Smart Works were keen to discuss the charity’s commitment to sustainable fashion, which includes regularly holding pre-loved fashion sales to raise money to help fund the service.

Commenting on the visit,Mr Sharma said: “It was a fabulous visit to a fabulous charity and I want to thank Smart Works Reading for showing me around their new offices. Their work is inspirational in giving women the confidence they need to secure employment and I look forward to continuing to work with them.”

Sarah Burns MBE, Chair, Smart Works Reading, said: “It was great for Alok to see the new centre and hear how it will enable even more women to benefit from our transformational job interview coaching and dressing service. We are very grateful for Alok’s continuing support – he has always been such a cheerleader for Smart Works Reading.”

During the visit, Mr Sharma was shown the charity’s  job interview coaching rooms and the wardrobe and dressing area where beneficiaries are given outfits for their interviews.

He was also told about Smart Works Reading’s plans to double the number of women it helps over the next three years.

You can find out how to donate money and clothes, and how to volunteer for the charity, on the Smart Works Reading website.

The charity was founded by Sarah Burns, who has served as its chair.

However, she announced that she would be stepping down from the chair position in June this year, with the charity on the look out for a new person to take on the role.