Gift #forgood this Christmas

Artist Emily Crockford from Studio A, a social enterprise that makes great art and creates professional pathways for artists with an intellectual disability. Studio A is one of thirteen social enterprises featured in Westpac Foundation’s Christmas Gift Guide. Photo courtesy of Katherine Griffiths.
 

According to Roy Morgan’s annual Christmas retail sales forecast, Australians are set to spend more than $54.3 billion in retail stores over the Christmas period.

 

Check out our Westpac Foundation 2020 Christmas Gift Guide (PDF 3MB) for lots of great ideas for gifts for friends and family that not only support local businesses, but also helps the local community.
 

Purchasing gifts from a social enterprise or community organisation gives the extra gift of social impact.
 

Nicole Patterson in Westpac’s Finance team chose to shop with purpose for her Christmas gifts and support Community Grant recipient SisterWorks, a Melbourne-based not-for-profit that works to economically empower migrant women, asylum seekers and refugees.
 

“I was looking for some reasonably-priced and useful Christmas gifts for my girlfriends,” says Nicole. “By choosing to buy from SisterWorks I know that my purchase helped create direct income for refugee and migrant women. Sharing this with my friends, I know they will value their gift more highly.”
 

Like SisterWorks, social enterprise and community partners supported by Westpac Foundation help create jobs and opportunities for people who face barriers to mainstream employment.
 

Check out the Westpac Foundation Christmas Gift Guide and shop #forgood this festive season.