The workings of Clothing Works
The Sweatshirt Project was formed in 1991 as a co-operative work scheme
within a sheltered workshop environment for clients who were suffering
from long-term severe and enduring mental ill health.
On 1 Jan 2003 Clothing Works was born, predominantly to get away from
the term sweatshirt, which had associations with 'sweatshop'.
At the same time it was decided to launch a new range of garments, to
form closer professional links with the COT and training schools/universities
and to look at Clothing Works becoming a social firm.
The team consists of one senior OT, one technical instructor and five other members of staff, who are either currently clients or clients who have now been employed by the Devon Partnership NHS Trust on a staff bank contract. These staff are paid at least the minimum working wage, along with all the benefits a formal contract has to offer.
The five posts cover the areas of supervisor, administrator, receptionist and stock controllers. For all of these clients and the trust itself it was a huge step forward in many ways.
For the clients it was the first time back into some form of structured and paid employment for a very long time. For the trust this is the first time that such an employment situation, involving both the occupational health and human resources departments, had been set up, enabling mental health clients to move on into a more formal, structured and paid employment situation.
The work takes place three afternoons per week within a supported integrated setting. It has been identified both within the trust and outside by OTs, GPs, consultants and community psychiatric nurses that the approach taken by Clothing Works has increased the self-esteem, enthusiasm, confidence and the general quality of life for all the individuals concerned.
Clothing Works designs, markets and distributes COT and other professional garments to a worldwide customer base. There are comprehensive links with the majority of NHS hospitals in the UK, along with individuals both here and overseas. A wide-ranging mailing system, regular advertisements, a website and an email system are all in place to assist Clothing Works in promoting its professional garments and image.
Clothing Works is now in talks with a number of OT training schools and universities. This is because the government now provides each training school or university with a pot of money to pass on to the individual student to purchase the required and necessary uniform garments during training. Clothing Works can now offer students a comprehensive range of ‘garment packages’ which they can purchase with this money.
The most recent and exciting news for Clothing Works is the new garments that it has now added to its already extensive line, all of which will be available with the full range of COT logos or short text (predominantly for the child’s baseball caps and child’s T-shirts).
New garments:
- Tunics - three different styles male/female
- body warmer
- scarf
- waterproof jacket
Visit the Clothing Works website >
Steve Wincott is a senior OT with the Devon Partnership NHS Trust
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