A CHARITY which gives vulnerable women the opportunity to get back into work has been selected as Henley Literary Festival’s charity partner for 2018.

Smart Works Reading helps more than 400 women every year across Thames Valley by giving them a new outfit and coaching to improve their confidence and interview skills.

The clients come from a range of disadvantaged backgrounds and some of the women are referred to Smart Works after being released from prison to help their rehabilitation.

Tom Ryan, programme director at Henley Literary Festival, said: “Smart Works Reading and its work really resonated with us and so we are delighted to support the charity.”

The charity will launch a series of networking events to bring women together to explore the world of careers and working lives, with the help of festival organisers.