Once again the Club had their meeting at the Virginia Park Cafe. Our Guest Speaker was Grant Holland from the Holland Foundation.
Here is the report of the guest speaker Grant HollandThe background on Grant
Grant is fortunate to be the grandson of the late Sir George and Landy May Holland. Sir George was an ANZAC WW1 first lander and the Victorian RSL State President from 1929 to 1950, and National President from 1950 to 1960. This philanthropic and leadership legacy led grant to become the founder of the Holland Foundation charity (www.hf.org.au)which honours his grandparent's memory through the Foundations innovative programs and services to the disadvantaged. The Holland Foundation's core program is their highly successful "real world" employment-training program, which has helped over 600 disadvantaged people gain employment in the last 8 years. Grantis a proud social worker and clinical therapist, who has a Master of Social Science (Research), and qualifications and accreditations in youth work and child care, mediation, workplace assessment and training, negotiation and global diplomacy.
Grant addressed the club meeting and informed members that the Grant Holland Foundation is located at 502 Centre Road Bentleigh. Mentioned that in excess of 600 people had benefitted from these programs and ultimately found real employment.
The Holland Foundation has a support a trainee transitioning from unemployment to employment in our "real world" training program in our Op-shop in Bentleigh.
Trainees are taught every aspect of the business and learn customer service, cash handling, accounts payable/receivable, office administration, Team Leading, resume development, interview techniques and are assisted to get external paid employment.
Support funds will assist trainees who have no/minimal income with the cost of training and job hunting including; public transport fares, printing & photocopying, interview clothing, postage/email/internet, stationary etc.
The Holland Foundation run a unique one-of-a-kind pre-employment training program for long term unemployed in a "real-world" environment in an Op-shop in Bentleigh.
Trainees are taught every aspect of the business and also assisted with resume development, interview skills with a view to helping them get paid employment.
They want to promote from within so that part of the training involves moving volunteers to a Manager role. They will run the shop and office!
All trainees are struggling financially with little or no income. Your support will assist them to keep financially afloat whilst they attend training eg. transport, food, bills
Support a disadvantaged student with the cost of achieving their educational dreams by helping to fund school fees, books and essential educational items.
Rather than embarrass a disadvantaged student with a "hand-out", they are instead presented with a student achievement award.
For many students, this may be first time they have ever been presented with any sort of positive award.
Support families and individuals who are struggling to put healthy meal on the table, and to provide for basic necessities such as electricity, gas, school fees/books, clothing, transport fares and just surviving.
With support we can access and distribute healthy food options, food hampers to children and families and provide financial support to those who despite trying, are struggling to keep afloat with their basic life need bills and payments.
Many children and families have never been to afford to attend the football, circus, cricket, camps, dance classes and/or cannot afford equipment to participate join their local sporting or recreational club.
Support children and families to access the wonderful memories and life lessons that can be learned from participating and attending sport and entertainment.
