Australia: Colin Biggers & Paisley Foundation achieves spectacular results in first year of operation

The Colin Biggers & Paisley Foundation was launched in January 2015. In its first year of operation, the Foundation has achieved impressive results, donating $196,277.54 to charities, contributing 159 volunteer hours and donating $1.73 million in pro bono legal services.

The Foundation's core strategy is to promote and protect the rights of women and children in Australia and abroad. Our national partnership with Save the Children Australia (SCA) sees us collaborate in the area of children's rights. Our financial contributions support SCA's Mobile Youth Van, which travels the country providing child protection and education programs.

Together with the FM Foundation, we deliver the Youth Employment Project,which equips disadvantaged young people with skills to find employment through practical workshops. Our employees volunteer their time to help students understand the workplace environment and the importance of further education for their careers.

Through our partnership with Women's Legal Services (WLS) in NSW, we host a weekly clinic to help domestic violence victims explore a range of possible compensation avenues. In Victoria, we help the WLS to formulate the legal policies needed to tackle domestic violence.

We run a contract law project with the Australian Human Rights Commission, a document review project for the International Women's Development Agency and support the Kaleidoscope Foundation in its work advocating for LGBTI rights globally.

Our efforts have been recognised by the Australian Human Rights Commission, which recently named the Foundation as one of five finalists for the Law Award in the 2015 Human Rights Awards.