UKFT to support charity

UK Fashion & Textile Association (UKFT) will support the Textile Industry Children’s Trust (TICT), a specialist trade charity that helps children at risk. Founded in 1853 to 'cloth, maintain and educate the children of warehousemen, clerks and agents of the textile industry', the charity has expanded its work to include children (from birth to 18 years) of parents who work in UK fashion retailing and manufacturing as well as textiles.

TICT is looking to award grants to the value of £310,000 this year and increase this amount by 10 per cent every year. According to TICT’s new director, Anna Pangbourne, the children it helps could be at risk through bereavement, domestic conflict, disability, physical or emotional needs, or a parent who is drug or alcohol dependent.

“TICT can act as a safety net to ensure that a child can complete its education successfully during a critical phase. We may also support gifted and talented children with a specialist education or award hardship grants to cover the cost of uniforms, specialist equipment, such as a home computer, or provide funding towards transport to a school,” says Anna Pangbourne.

The initiative is embarking on a revitalisation programme and the charity is launching its first significant fund-raising campaign for many years – a mobile phone recycling campaign. Aimed primarily at retail head office staff, Arcadia and John Lewis are already supporting the initiative, however, suppliers and brands can participate too.

TICT is chaired by fashion industry veteran David Carter-Johnson and other voluntary trustees include Chairman of the Development Committee David Shepherd, Top Man; Nikki Zamblera, Debenhams; Jill Little, John Lewis and Nayna McIntosh, Marks & Spencer. They follow the footsteps of renowned people involved in TICT including
Prince of Wales and Charles Dickens was the Chairman
of Appeal in 1856 and 1857.

Image: Fractal Road