Shining spotlight on Wisbech-based homeless charity Ferry Project with catwalk fashion show

Glamour and style were the order of the day as models took to the runway at a charity event that raised more than £2,500 for the homeless.

The Queen Mary Centre in Wisbech was transformed into a fashion show venue on Thursday, complete with catwalk.

Twenty models strutted their stuff in front of a 160-strong audience at the event organised by the Ferry Project, which helps the homeless in Wisbech and is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year.

Ferry Project founder and CEO Keith Smith gave a speech highlighting the work of the charity helping those in need in the community.

Then LEADA drama group, led by Linda Ekins, performed a short drama that told the story of a homeless person finding the help and support they needed from Ferry Project, which enabled them to move from homelessness to independent living.

After this, the fashion show began. With the models from the local community taking part, each model had selected items of donated clothing from Wisbech Donations Hub to include as part of their outfits.

Each model took to the catwalk wearing three different outfits and wowed the audience with their glamour, style and confidence.

The Wisbech Donations Hub is based at the Queen Mary Centre and operates in a similar way to the Foodbank, where individuals can be referred to the service.

The Donations Hub provides household items for people in need who are unable to afford the essentials required to set up a home, such as pots and pans, pillows, blankets, beds, cookers, lamps, towels, toiletries, clothing, and even food.

Donations of items in a good condition can be brought to the Queen Mary Centre on weekdays during working hours.

A total of £2,500 was raised from the event with the money going towards helping the homeless in the Fenland area through the work of the Ferry Project by being split between the Donations Hub and the Hardship Fund that can be directly accessed by homeless clients for things such as training, transport or medical prescriptions.

Keith said: “What a wonderful evening Thursday was. It was a pleasure to work with all the volunteers and sponsored models to raise funds to help homeless people and to highlight the Donations Hub. I am grateful to everyone who gave their time and money to make the evening such a success.

“The Donations Hub helps homeless people as they set up their new home, supplying them with household goods, furniture and clothes for free. The Hub is entering a new era with a new partnership with the Kings Church who will be taking over the management of the Hub and looking to expand its work.”