Grants/funds for work clothes?

Mrs_Ryan

Hi all
I'm currently on conts based ESA in the Support Group.
I may have a chance of a job (yay) with the NHS as an internal redeployment into an admin role as advised by Occ Health. I am awaiting advice from Occ Health on their opinion as to whether the role is suitable but that should hopefully be a formality.
Problem is, I previously wore a uniform and have lost 5 stone since last year so I no longer have any office wear suitable as I had loads from my last call centre job but it was all in a size 24 and I'm now a 14-16..
Is there any funds that can help me to buy some work clothes? I'm hopelessly skint and have only one dress/tunic thing, a pair of trousers and a jacket which would be suitable. I know that I could go to Primark and get probably an entire working wardrobe for about 50 or 60 quid but I haven't got that sort of money spare and won't have until I got my first wage end of September.
I realise that I probably won't get bog all as I'm conts based but just thought I would throw it out there to see if anyone knew of anything.
Thanks

ali-t

I don't know of anything, sorry but the asda £6 trousers hang well and are very durable.

KxMx

If you haven't enough money spare for a whole wardrobe now why not just get a couple pairs of trousers and a few tops? Then get what else you need once you get paid.

I realise being on ESA the money is not generous but if you can find a fiver here or there than that would help.

How about looking into selling the too big clothes you do have through eBay or a local for sale facebook page, and using the proceeds to fund what you need.

Or seeing how long you can manage with food in the cupboard, without a need to buy more so the money you would have spent would go on clothes.

Perhaps you could contact your local Job Centre to see if there is anything available? It's not just people on ESA WRAG who they can help support.

jetplane

Congratulations on losing weight and the possibility of a job. Have you checked out charity grants in your area? I don't know what your illness is but is there a possibility of a grant through a support network and do you have an adviser at Jobcentre who you can ask about discretionary funds?

Ebay is a good idea as larger clothes do seem to sell quite well and you may pick up a couple of bargains in a charity shop if your only wanting them to last until your back on your feet. As already mentioned Asda do a cheap workwear range that washes and wears well, one in the wash and one to wear. I cant speak for Primark as I always feel stressed in that shop and the quality seems to vary.

Good Luck

FBaby

You don't need that much. Are you going to be working 5 days a week? The NHS is quite flexible in terms of dress code as long as you don't wear jeans and tatty t-shirts. You can get trousers and decent tops for a few kids at any charity shops. Could you still lose some weight too in which case you want to spend even less on a full new wardrobe.

Mrs_Ryan

Thank you everyone
EBay out of the question- they've suspended my account as I can't afford the seller fees the trousers I have are from a charity shop and are beautiful quality but I was lucky with them- I seem to have found trousers in size 18 (I need an 18 in structured trousers and jeans but wear a 14/16 in others) are difficult to come by in charity shops. I will keep looking though! FBaby- I'm at my target at Slimming World now so while I may lose/gain a pound or two here and there I won't have any more significant losses. I will be working full time yes. I have several pairs of smart black skinny jeans but I would rather not wear them to work!
Thanks jetplane- I have mental health issues. I haven't got an advisor as this job came through my current employer (I've been on long term sick but claiming ESA as my sick pay ran out) but I know there's a lady at the local JobCentre who does the disability employment advice- I might actually go and make an appointment to see her and ask if there's anything that can be done to help. My OH pays the lion's share of the bills but most of my money has to go on my monthly bus pass as I need it for getting to physio and appointments and suchlike which I have a lot of at the moment!
Thanks all- a bit of food for thought there and I'm grateful