Dress For Success

A CHARITY which supports women in South Lanarkshire in overcoming barriers to employment has received vital funding from a national bursary initiative. 

Dress for Success Scotland, which is based in Strathclyde Business Park, in Bellshill, is a recipient of Ross and Liddell’s Community Bursary Scheme and will use the donation to purchase clothes to boost its stock.

Launched in 2009, the charity was established to get disadvantaged and unemployed women back into work and is the only one of its kind in Scotland. The volunteers provide free interview and work clothing to unemployed women in Bellshill, Motherwell and Hamilton, as well as the wider West of Scotland area.  

Anita Craig, volunteer at Dress for Success Scotland, said: “The funding from Ross and Liddell is a huge boost and will allow us to enhance the choice of clothes we have on offer for the women who use our service.

“All the clothes, including the shoes and accessories, have been donated by businesses and local communities so there are certain sizes we don’t have a huge selection of. This money will enable us to buy pieces that will boost our stock levels.

“It’s incredible the difference a new outfit can make, many women live on low income so don’t have the money for work clothes. Once we have kitted our clients out, if they are successful in their interview we invite them back in and supply them with a week’s work of clothing which provides a basic working wardrobe which they can build on.

“The service is a vital lifeline for unemployed women who are struggling to return to work. As we are an independent charity we rely on the support of organisations like Ross and Liddell and we are very grateful for this donation.”

Ross and Liddell specialises in property management and maintenance, as well as providing a comprehensive range of residential and commercial services, including sales, lettings, surveying and insurance.

Now in its fourth year, the Community Bursary Scheme was launched to provide support to organisations that make a vital difference in their community.

Irene Devenny, managing director of Ross and Liddell, said: “Helping women overcome barriers to employment is a huge task and Dress for Success is offering a very unique service which gives women the confidence and self-esteem to meet this challenge head on.

“It’s incredible this is the only charity of its kind in Scotland and the work it does has been and will continue to be a lifeline for women.

“Our bursary scheme has gone from strength to strength over the last four years and we are thrilled to support Dress for Success and that the funding will help bolster its clothing stock for women who are in need.” 

Dress for Success helps more than 200 women each year, giving out around 2,000 items of clothing. The charity is open four days a week. For more information please contact 01698 842224.