On Sunday 24 April, FARA Charity shops launch TOTES FOR EVERYONE – a range of hand crafted bags, made from donated fabrics, and designed by women prisoners to help vulnerable and disadvantaged young women in Romania.
The bags have been made by women serving in a London prison at the Fashion Training and Manufacture Unit, which was set up by LCF and the Ministry of Justice, to provide skills and employment for serving and recently released offenders.
The sale of the bags will raise funds for FARA’s outreach scheme to help disadvantaged young women develop parenting and life skills, which is part of FARA’s internationally accredited FOYER training programme.
The programme is for people between the ages of 16 and 25 who are in housing need, and offers personal development services that enable young people to reconnect with learning, increase their employability and improve their health and wellbeing.
Head of LCF Professor Frances Corner OBE said:
As Head of London College of Fashion, I have a long standing commitment to working with the National Offender Management Service and know that education is a key factor in the rehabilitation process and keeping people out of prison. Social enterprises such as ours give individuals a chance to become independent and contribute to society in a more positive way.
The bags are made from a selection of quality vintage and contemporary fabrics, sustainably and locally sourced in London. A limited edition of 500 will be available for sale from Sunday 24th April in selected FARA Shops and online.