Portland’s United Way Glenelg fostering strong reading habits thanks to are-able Foundation

United Way Glenelg (UWG) will receive $10,000 for their Books from Birth – Dolly Parton Imagination Library (DPIL) initiative as part of the are-able Foundation’s latest round of grants. Each month, enrolled children receive a high-quality, age-appropriate book in the mail, free of charge, including a parent reading tip sheet relating to the book. Children receive books from birth to age five. The program also supports parents and carers to become their child’s first teacher, building confidence and skills to take on the role as their child’s first teacher.

“Are-able is proud to support United Way Glenelg with the funds required to help close the gap in early literacy and school readiness. It is our privilege and responsibility to ensure that children in our region are school-ready by the time they commence prep. The Dolly Parton Imagination Library is a wonderful initiative to encourage reading as a shared activity within the family and foster literacy confidence for life” said are-able Portland Site Manager Tammie Hawke.

Nicole Car, Executive Officer United Way Glenelg said funds from are-able Foundation will focus on prioritising enrolments from birth. “Since inequality starts at or before birth, it can and should be corrected at or before birth with the resource of early childhood and parental education. Evidence shows that supplementing the family environments of disadvantaged children with educational resources is an effective and cost-efficient way to provide equal opportunity, achievement, and economic success.”

The are-able Foundation is a fund established to support activities in the communities in which we operate, so that organisations can improve access and opportunity to people living with a disability or disadvantage. Since it started in 2004, the Trust has distributed more than $1 million dollars to various groups around Victoria. As a community based, not-for-profit organisation, are-able channels funding back into our regional community through the are-able Foundation and specialist support programs that provide quality employment services for employers and job seekers.

Are-able is a not-for-profit community agency that provides disability employment assistance, recruitment and training services and disability services. Across twenty-nine sites in Victoria and one in South Australia, are-able offers programs including; Disability Employment Services, Jobactive, Employer Recruitment Services, Australian Disability Enterprises, Work for the Dole, Socialisers, and are-able Social Enterprises.

The Are-able Portland Team are here to help you with all of your Disability Employment Services, Disability Recruitment Services and training advice in the Portland region. The friendly team will provide a supportive environment to assist you in finding employment and navigating the challenges associated with job searching. Local businesses are also encouraged to advertise Portland job vacancies through are-able. We also encourage employers to consider utilising the supportive recruitment services for the Portland region and explore opportunities offered by working with our clients. The Portland office specialises in Disability Employment Services (DES) helping people with a disability, injury or health conditions find and keep a job. Are-able Portland also has an outreach office in Heywood and regularly run Early Childhood training courses in Portland with a Cert III and Diploma of Early Childhood Education & Care as well as First Aid Training.