Vanguard Laundry Services is a laundry based in Toowoomba, Queensland, with a social outcome purpose. Unlike most commercial laundries, Vanguard is a social enterprise developed by the Toowoomba Clubhouse, a not-for-profit organisation supporting people who have a lived experience of mental illness and struggle to secure employment.

Offering a highly professional service to healthcare, aged care, hospitality and accommodation providers, Vanguard’s custom-built commercial laundry uses state-of-the-art technology aimed at delivering significant economic and environmental savings for customers.

The social enterprise was set up to help provide jobs and training for local people who needed a helping hand. They act as an employment launch pad for people who have experienced mental illness and struggle to secure gainful employment. The onsite career development centre provides free training, career development planning, work placement pathways with employment partners, and access to higher education training.

Any surplus made is re-invested back into improving the laundry services or supporting local mental health employment projects.

Vanguard Laundry Services was the Kofi Foundation’s first foray into impact investing, lending Vanguard money to help build and establish the service.

Outcomes

The service continues to grow and change lives along the way. As at November 2018, Vanguard had employed throughout the year 18 people who have experienced long term unemployment due to a lived experience of mental illness, and had 12 staff members transition into gainful employment.

This great story on the 7.30 Report (link to the ‘Latest News’ post) gives a good insight into the human impact this social enterprise is having, and we’re proud to be a part of it.