Anglo Pacific helps disadvantaged women dress for success
Last Tuesday, 4 September, over a hundred immaculately turned out businesswomen descended on Australia House on London’s Strand for a networking event in honour of Dress for Success – a charity that assists disadvantaged women find employment.
Attending the function was Anglo Pacific’s Australian-born Baggage Manager, Bianca Robinson, “Dress for Success helps women on low incomes get back to work by inviting them to the charity’s north London office, arranging for a trained stylist to dress them in a smart professional interview outfit and then giving some all-important interview training. Looking fantastic and with confidence restored – these women have a far better chance of success. In the run-up to this event, Anglo Pacific has been collecting donated clothing from various London pick-up points to deliver to Australia House for display. It was humbling to see the generosity of professional women and to grasp the fact that these endless rails of clothing could really change the course of a woman’s life.”
Natalie McPherson, Chair of Ruby UK, the professional women’s networking group hosting the Dress for Success event, comments, “Ruby UK simply could not have delivered without the support of Anglo Pacific who transported literally mountains of clothes from donation locations to the event venue and then onto Dress for Success. The items they transported went from loving homes to ladies who truly need them and Bianca’s team treated the goods with relevant care each step of the way. Nothing was too much trouble and you could sense a genuine interest at being able to contribute and participate. Again, another big thank you to Anglo Pacific for their role with this Ruby UK event."
Fed and watered with sandwich canapés, mini pizzas, cheese platters and fine South Australian wine, guests were treated to various addresses including a keynote speech from the charismatic Editor of Glamour UK Magazine, Australian-born Jo Elvin. Making a life journey from young traveller to award-winning Editor of Britain’s number one women’s magazine makes for an inspirational story and one guest described Jo’s words as “very honest and humorous, inspiring and encouraging”.
The UK branch of Dress for Success (dressforsuccess.org.uk) was launched in Islington in 2000 by Susan Denmead, who was stirred by the US version when she spotted it on the Oprah Winfrey Show - Susan is still involved as an ambassador. The basis of the charity is simple, women who have been unemployed, have spent years as full-time mums, been very ill or in prison are helped back into the workplace by being furnished with fabulous interview outfits, confidence and the wherewithal to make a fantastic first impression. If they get the job, they can come back for more outfits. If they don’t, they are boosted and reassured to try again.
Ruby UK was launched in June 2012 and is an extension of Ruby Connection in Australia, which was formed by Westpac Bank to support professional women. Ruby Connection now has over 23,000 members and is advocated by men and women alike. Ruby UK (facebook.com/rubyuknetwork) maintains an Antipodean flair, being a robust network available to all professional women, offering a platform to exchange ideas, share knowledge and become inspired. Ruby UK has chosen to support Dress for Success as its program resonates with the Ruby UK ideals.
For all your baggage and shipping needs, visit anglopacific.co.uk.
