Guest Author - Vicky Talbot

If you occasionally feel the urge to turn up to the office in that banished-to-the-back-of-the-wardrobe, gold lame cat suit, perhaps those shocking neon dungarees or maybe just a crazy hat, you could have the perfect excuse this February. Shock your friends and work mates into donating to a worthy cause during World Orphan Week which runs from 4th until 10th February – a charitable campaign aimed at helping the world’s most vulnerable children.

Giving fashion victims across the globe the opportunity to don clothes from years gone by (surely that sequin boob tube needs an airing?) or perhaps just a chance to jazz up an otherwise dull charcoal skirt suit, SOS Children’s Villages, the charity behind World Orphan Week is appealing to the public to raise awareness to the cause by organising WOW days at work. What better way to add a sparkle of colour to your working day than teaming that sensible black blazer with a striking pair of pink stilettos? It’s easy to organise a WOW day – simply inform everyone in the office of the date and whoever chooses to wear something whacky for the day has to make a generous donation to a cause that helps millions of young people worldwide find homes.

SOS Children’s Villages is a UK based charity that helps vulnerable children globally across123 countries, reaching from the USA to Kenya, Vietnam to Mexico. The charity works with children whose parents aren’t around to care for them – their families may have been affected by AIDS, natural disasters, war, poverty or disease. The world’s largest orphan and abandoned children’s charity, SOS Children’s Villages run community programmes to help support vulnerable families and every penny raised during World Orphan Week is pumped into these villages. Donations also go towards building new schools and nurseries as well as funding community programmes that are essential to making long term differences to vulnerable children and families.

Supported by celebrities and fashion designers such as Vivienne Westwood, there’s never been a better excuse to wear your most treasured, extravagant pieces all in the name of charity. When else are you going to get chance to wear those leopard print leggings, the bright yellow stockings or multicoloured turban? Fashion never felt so satisfying and when worn in support of such a fantastic cause, make sure you get your friends and colleagues to wear something WOW just for one day and make a real difference to the lives of millions of children across the globe. For inspiration on how to organise your WOW fundraising activities visit the official website (www.wearwow.com) and start planning your outfit – the louder, brighter and crazier the better!