Last Wednesday evening, 10 February, ladies were queuing out of the door at the start of Hedge End’s King’s Community Church’s (KCC) Ladies Clothes Swap and Pamper Evening.

With 110 tickets pre-sold and many more bought on the night the promise of a busy and fun evening didn’t disappoint.

Ali Scurr, event organiser and KCC member: ‘The evening is designed to encourage young mums to get out and socialise in a friendly atmosphere and to enjoy other people’s company. It’s also an opportunity for us as a church to use our facilities to reach out into the community.’

For the clothes swap each guest could bring up to 12 pieces of clothing, jewellery or footwear and were given a token for every item brought, to be swapped later in the evening for the bracelets, bangles and necklaces, and coats, dresses, skirts, tops, shoes and boots the organisers were busy sorting into size.

A demonstration on make-up and the right way to apply it for a day-time into evening look in the main hall followed a demonstration on the correct way to fit a bra by Botley-based lingerie store Hidden Agenda – did you know that 80 percent of women wear the wrong bra size?

The pampering came courtesy of a number of Hedge End and local Hampshire businesses.

Staff from the nail and beauty salon Vanilla Rooms in Bursledon Road were offering hand massages and providing advice on hairstyles and colours. Louise Stubbs, beauty therapist, said, ‘This is a great opportunity to let people know what we do. They can meet us and see that we’re approachable and friendly. Many people are nervous of making a first visit to a salon as they don’t know what to expect. In coming here we feel we’re also supporting the church and the community.’

Debbie Allen, beauty therapist at The Beauty Room, Fair Oak, was also providing hand and arm massages along with skin therapy advice. She said of the KCC event, ‘This is one of the best I’ve been too.’

Hedge End’s d2rgoup was giving advice on Aloe Vera products, there were boxes of chocolates on sale, and wine and cake for refreshment.

Stands contributed percentages of products sold or gave raffle prizes and which together with the ticket entry money has gone to the church’s charity, CRY, working to support disadvantaged, destitute and suffering children, young people and their families. The charity operates a shop in Hedge End centre, selling furniture and household items as well as clothes, books, toys and games.

King’s Community Church is in Upper Northam Road, and part of the Newfrontiers family of churches.