Helping Hands

Western Cape Forum
for Intellectual Disability

Friends Day Centre is a member of the Western Cape Forum for Intellectual Disabilities. WCFID is a support network for service providers in the field of intellectual disability offering training, resources and support.

WCFID provides training to service providers in the field of Intellectual Disability. They develop and produce innovative culturally appropriate training materials. they provide information to the public regarding intellectual disabilities via various platforms. WCFID is very involved in research in the disability field as well as social support networks.

Vizual Multi Service Group

Vizual Multi Service Group generously does all the pest control, decontamination and fogging at the Centre, as well as nappy waste removal. Vizual Multi Service Group provides exceptional services with the very best staff such as Darrion Ravenscroft who does an amazing job.

Dis-Chem Foundation &
KFM 94.5 Random Acts of Kindness

As part of Dis-Chem Foundation's 'Random Act of Kindness' initiative, KFM 94.5 Mornings visited the Friends Day Centre in Maitland. To help ease our financial burden, Sherry Saltzman of Dis-Chem Pharmacies pledged a whopping R120 000 to the Centre with an additional R4 500 per month to be spent instore at Dis-chem Canal Walk Century City.

Connect -123

Friends Day Centre has had the privilege to team up with the Connect-123 volunteer programme. Connect-123 develops and administers international internships and volunteer abroad programmes in Barcelona, Buenos Aires, Cape Town, Dublin, Shanghai, and Sydney.

We receive students on a four week rotational block for 1 to 2 days a week. The students come with a wealth of knowledge but not knowing what to expect when arriving at the Centre, they are met with various challenges but adapted very quickly and fall in love with all our learners.

Freedom Walkers and the Spur foundation

A Cape Town father has come up with a brilliantly simple solution that has turned his disabled girl’s life around and gives her the freedom to move about on her own. With the financial support of the Spur Foundation, other children with physical disabilities in the Western Cape will now also be able to experience the joy Freedom Walkers offer. About 5% of children in South Africa aged 0-19 have a reported disability. Many of those are physical disabilities such as cerebral palsy and spina bifida or limited mobility as a result of birth injuries or accidents. The majority of these children face enormous economic and social barriers that have an adverse impact on their physical, social and intellectual development and wellbeing. When we heard about Derek’s initiative, we decided to make a donation of freedom walkers to three organisations that support special needs children in the Western Cape. Assisting kids in their early-stage development also involves facilitating access to useful devices for physically disabled children. Providing them with a means to move about freely to benefit their health and confidence and to provide the kids access to socialising and schooling. One of the greatest gifts you can give a child with special needs is independence. Friends Day Centre is one of the three organisations receiving freedom walkers donated by the Spur Foundation. Friends Day Centre is a NPO caring for children with severe to profound physical and/or intellectual disabilities from as young as two years of age. The expression on the children’s faces when they are placed in the freedom walker for the first time is priceless, slowly figuring out that they can directly influence their own position by moving their feet. In doing so they gain more independence and much more confidence. Thank you to Rodeo Spur Steak ranch for coming on board as a partner on the Spur party we hosted for staff and children at Friends Day Centre. It was a real treat for them! We know how important it is that you trust the people looking after your children, which is why we have brought together years of expertise and experience to ensure the best care. We offer a range of childcare solutions – take a look around our website or get in touch to find out more.

Rausch Partners Foundation

Rausch Partners is a Swiss-based independent global advisory and multi-asset management group founded in 2011.

Rausch Partners has committed a significant portion of its profits by its articles of association to a higher cause through Rausch Partners Foundation.

The Foundation has financed, built and supported several homes for disabled children in Europe and South Africa over the last decade.

They specifically support projects for disabled children and encourage our business partners and charities to introduce us to specific situations.

The Rausch Partners foundations currently sponsors seven learners with learner fees as well as transport fees. The Foundation also contributes towards the Speech therapist and Occupational Therapist at the Centre.

GIVENGAIN - Micheal Just

The GivenGain Foundation is a non-profit organisation based in Switzerland and manages all donations made to projects listed on GivenGain.

Micheal Just has raised funds through the GivenGain Foundation for Juniors electronic wheel chair, given Junior the freedom of moving throughout the centre without effort.

Grandslots CSI

The Grandslots CSI motto is “enriching lives and uplifting communities”. Grandslots CSI believes in ploughing back into the communities, especially in the area where we are represented. We are grateful to have partnered with this amazing organisation over the past years and even more so during the COVID-19 pandemic where they were involved in a number of relief projects.

Pinelands High School

Once a year the grade 9 learners from Pinelands High School visit the Centre for four days on a learner outreach programme. The students come in a little shy of our children but leave with a new found sense of understanding and love.

Western Province Cricket Association

We were privileged to have the Western Province U17A cricket team and their coaches visit the Centre and spend some time with the children. Everyone had so much fun, hitting the ball and a little bit of bowling.

friends day centre