On June 26th 2015 UNIQLO UK welcomed TAG, Teenage Activity Group, to UNIQLO Kingston for a UTme! and Creativity Workshop.
TAG aims to empower and optimize the potential of young people, who have a disability, between the ages of 15 and 25 who either live, learn or earn in the Royal Borough of Kingston. Nine volunteers and nine young people from TAG attended, along with their parents or carers. Group Senior Vice President, Yukihiro Nitta attended as well as UK COO Takao Kuwahara and Director of CSR in the US and EU, Jean Shein.
Using the UNIQLO UTme app, volunteers helped the young people to create their own t-shirt design after getting inspiration from around the store. The designs were then printed onto t-shirts and given to the young people to take home. There was also a chance to learn some Japanese origami and crafts.
Feedback was extremely positive from all the parents and carers, one parent said “the volunteers were all extremely good with the kids and everyone left smiling.” Pawel, CSR ambassador from Regent Street store said: “Me, and all the volunteers, had such a great time. For many it was their first time volunteering and it was very rewarding. At first everyone was so nervous but when we started everyone came out of their shells and created some awesome t-shirt designs and origami”.
The Kingston store manager, Steven, said: “I really enjoyed seeing the staff and volunteers so happy, doing something outside of their usual job requirements. The activity really embodied the FR philosophy to enrich people’s lives and benefit society”.