Marion Menzies – Dress for Success Scotland

Our guest speaker at last tonight's meeting of the Rotary Club of Motherwell and Wishaw was Marion Menzies from Dress for Success Scotland.

Marion informed members that their aim is to empower women to achieve economic independence by providing professional clothing, a network of support and personal skills to help them thrive in work, as well as in life.

What Dress for Success Scotland do is so much more than simply new clothes. Their purpose is to offer long lasting solutions that enable women towards self-sufficiency. They are passionate about empowering women to obtain better futures and that starts with financial independence which in turn leads to thriving families and communities.

Marion advised that as society returns to work after the COVID-19 pandemic, the role of Dress for Success Scotland is more important than in ever in supporting women who are trying to make ends meet during unprecedented challenging times. They provide each client with professional work wear for interview or for starting their new job, but the support offered goes so much further.

Their styling service is a personal one-to-one experience which guides clients in their selection of work appropriate clothing from the boutique – either a single interview outfit or full capsule wardrobe to take home on the day and as well as a styling service to help style our clients with work appropriate clothing to match their needs. Their personal development programmes provide the tools their clients need to actively define their life and the direction they wish to take. Dress for Success Scotland helps inspire women to shape their futures and make a positive change.

The organisation believes that every woman has the right to realise her full potential and achieve financial independence in a more egalitarian world. That with the proper education, tools and action this world is possible. Marion said that all women deserve the same opportunities regardless of their circumstances, which are quite often not of their own making. Through the work of Dress for Success Scotland we can help to redress that balance.

Every woman’s journey to the service starts with a referral and Dress for Success Scotland works with a wide variety of referral partners including the Department for Work and Pensions (JobCentre+), employability and training organisations, local authorities, educational institutions and other community organisations and charities such as Remploy, Capability Scotland, One Parent Families Scotland, Tomorrow’s Women and Enable Works. They are always looking for new organisations to register with them to allow their clients to access our services – please get in touch.

In ending, Marion said that Dress for Success Scotland is all about team work – in the donations received from individuals, as well as corporate organisations, who give clothing and raise funds in a variety of ways. From corporate clothing drives through to charity fundraisers. In our referral partnerships, with our volunteer team and the wider community.