Lancôme & Kate Winslet support literacy project

Beauty brand Lancôme has partnered with The National Literacy Trust to launch the Words for Work: Women in Leadership programme, which aims help young women in the UK develop their literacy and leadership skills to tackle employment inequalities.

A launch event took place in London recently with a panel of inspiring women including actor and Lancôme ambassador Kate Winslet, Lancôme International General Manager, Francoise Lehmann, and award-winning blogger and author, Chidera Eggerue, hosted by Fiona Evans, Head of Schools Programmes at The National Literacy Trust.

The programme will work with young women aged 16-20 in London, Manchester and Nottingham during its first year, to promote workplace literacy through workshops covering CV writing, delivering a speech, and a visit to Lancôme's offices.

The Words for Work: Women in Leadership programme forms part of Lancôme's global campaign, Write Her Future, which aims to tackle the literacy crisis affecting the lives of 58 million young women around the world.

Fiona Evans, Head of Schools Programmes at The National Literacy Trust, says:

“Thousands of young women leave school every year without the literacy skills they need to succeed. As a result, these young women will find it hard to get a job and will be more likely to live in poverty. We are thrilled to be working with Lancôme to transform the futures of hundreds of young women by giving them the literacy skills, confidence and inspiration they need to achieve their potential in the workplace.”

Kate Winslet adds:

“Reading and writing, for most of us, is as natural as breathing. But for one out of every seven women in the UK it is not. Lancôme and the National Literacy Trust want to help disadvantaged women to be able to communicate effectively, and help them to secure their first jobs. This is one of the reasons why I appreciate the relationship I have with Lancôme as, together, we share a deep-rooted desire to support women in being able to fulfil their hopes and dreams, and their individuality. This is our shared vision of empowerment.”