Professional Women's Group leader for the Bay of Plenty Kay Littler says they are excited to be introducing a financial literacy programme that's open to everyone.
"As part of assisting our community towards stronger financial sustainability we at Dress for Success Rotorua have developed a programme that will enable clients to re-evaluate their view of, and manage, their money better.
"Whether it's to just assist in meeting their budgets, or adjust to a change in their financial situation, this programme will provide some considerable learning no matter what stage of their life," she says.
Founded in New York, USA, in 1997, Dress for Success is an international not-for-profit organisation offering services designed to help people find jobs and remain employed.
Each Dress for Success client receives one suit when she has a job interview and can return for a second suit, or separates, when she finds work.
"While we may be best known for providing suits to women, it is our employment retention programmes that are the cornerstone of the organisation. The Professional Women's Group (PWG) programme offers women ongoing support as they successfully transition into the workforce, with the mission to provide our network of employed Dress for Success women the partnership of support, practical information and inspiration to achieve self-defined success in career and life."
Kay says women making the transition from unemployment to work face many challenges, from understanding corporate culture to handling personal finances, often without any support systems in place to help them navigate this change .
"We provide our clients with information that will help women unfamiliar with the workplace continue to develop skills and advance in their careers. The PWG offers members a comfortable atmosphere in which they can share, grow and network with other women who have recently made the same transition into the workforce," she says.
Kay says the objective of this course is to enable people to understand money management, to be able to make good decisions to become financially stable, and in conjunction with a job, financially self-sufficient.
"This service is available to anyone within our community including, but not limited to, Dress For Success clients, Work and Income clients, Budgetary Services, students and families in need.
"The programme is designed to look at each individual's approach to money, how they use it and their attitude to spending and saving. The participant will then go through four workshops looking at how to take the time to manage their money to meet their day-to-day and long term needs."
"Each participant will identify their own goals and aspirations, create a budget, and allocate their income to meet their expense requirements.
" They will create a savings and retirement plan, and a plan to manage any debt difficulties.
"In addition each participant will create these in a workshop environment and complete their financial plan in their own time.
"At the subsequent session each participant will spend one-on-one time with the facilitator to review their plan, discuss options to address any personal struggles, and upon satisfaction of the final plan they will be marked up to a total of 80 marks, for all four modules.
"It is envisaged that each module will take about 90 minutes with a maximum of six to eight participants."
To find out more about Dress For Success and the Financial Literacy Programme call in and see the women at 1194 Tutanekai St, call (07) 348 3660, or visit their website, www.dressforsuccess.org/rotorua.