Lou’s Place

About Lou’s Place

Lou’s Place is a women’s refuge that provides a wide range of services, facilities and inspiration to women in need, promoting their autonomy, dignity, growth and self-worth through acceptance and respect. We focus on strengths, personal responsibility and positive change.

We do this through a grass roots approach that relies on a small professional staff supported by over 50 volunteers, without whom the doors could not remain open.

Lou’s Place, first opened its doors as a refuge for women on 19 April 1999 with the official opening by John Howard, then Prime Minister, on 12 May 2000. Initially, Lou’s was operated by Mission Australia in partnership with the Marmalade Foundation Inc. From 1 July 2009, The Marmalade Foundation Limited, the successor body to the Marmalade Foundation Inc., assumed sole responsibility for both operations and fund raising for this Sydney charity.

 

Dunbar’s Partnership & Affiliation with Lou’s Place

This year we have taken a five-year pledge to support Lou’s Place so that it can have access to sustained and reliable funding to:

• Responsibly offer and maintain staff contracts and ensure wages can be paid;
• Secure and maintain our premises;
• Continue the keystone services that make Lou’s Place a safe haven for hundreds of women every year; and
• Create the opportunity for best practice in our day-to-day operations and the opportunity for advocacy and thought leadership regarding women’s issues.

Volunteering at Lou’s Place

Lou’s Place wouldn’t be the successful Sydney charity it is without the commitment of our volunteers who give their time, skills and expertise.  Generating additional dynamism to our small professional staff, volunteers enable Lou’s Place to offer a broad range of services and programs, create a home-like, nurturing environment and significantly help manage down operating costs.

There are usually over 50 volunteers on the roster. Most come in on a weekly basis, some come fortnightly, and some fill in on school holidays or if another volunteer is away. A regular commitment is essential to the smooth running of Lou’s, and both the clients and the volunteers themselves benefit hugely from regular contact.

If you are interested in Volunteering your time, please contact the Switch: 9358 4553