Colin Biggers & Paisley Foundation's next major partnership will be with RizeUp. In line with the Foundation's focus area on women and children, RizeUp is an organisation that assists women, specifically women and families affected by domestic and family violence. RizeUp's mission is to drive awareness of domestic and family violence in society by generating life-changing, practical support for the families, giving them hope and empowerment to move on to a life free from violence.
 
Sadly, one in four women in Australia have experienced physical or sexual violence by a current or former partner since the age of 15. One in four women have experienced emotional abuse by a current or former partner since the age of 15. On average, one woman a week is murdered by her current or former partner. Police in Australia deal with domestic violence every two minutes. Additionally, for many women, the pandemic coincided with the onset or escalation of violence.

RizeUp works with specialist domestic violence services to ensure vulnerable families are provided with fast, safe, flexible solutions whilst fleeing a violent situation. A family fleeing from a violent household will often enter a refuge with nothing but the clothes on their backs. These families need practical and fast help, and when they leave the refuge RizeUp steps in to provide them with furnishings and everything they need to make their new accommodation a home.

To help support RizeUp's vision and work, the Foundation is providing a range of pro bono legal services, donations, fundraising, employee contributions, in-kind support and volunteering. Over the next two years our people will be given the opportunity to work together with RizeUp to change the lives of women and children from a life of fear and violence to one of safety and community, by bringing our core skills, resources, people and energy, together with RizeUp's knowledge and expertise.

Nicolle Edwards, Founder and CEO, RizeUp Australia said that the partnership with Colin Biggers & Paisley will help change the lives of women and children impacted by domestic and family violence.

"We are incredibly proud to be partnering with Colin Biggers & Paisley, a national law firm with the expertise and skills that will make a real impact on our work and the lives of the families we are helping.

While the health of everyone is important during the COVID-19 pandemic, we are very concerned about the threat to women and children who are being isolated in the home, potentially with a violent partner or family member. We are so grateful for the commitment from Colin Biggers & Paisley to provide us with pro bono, volunteering and donations that will go directly to assisting these people.
 
Thank you all so very much for the generous support. Together, we can change the ending for many more vulnerable families."
 
Nick Crennan, Managing Partner at Colin Biggers & Paisley said the Colin Biggers & Paisley community is proud to support RizeUp to change the ending for women and children impacted by family and domestic violence.

"Women and children are one of the focus areas of the Colin Biggers & Paisley Foundation.

We are very much looking forward to working with RizeUp over the next two years to support women and children affected by domestic and family violence.

Our partnership with RizeUp means that together we can make a profound difference to the lives of women and children impacted by domestic violence."