St Michael’s Child and Youth Care Centre chairperson Claudia Roodt, left, with board member, Lorraine Thomas, addresses the organisation’s annual general meeting. Photograph: Janice Matthews
The St Michael’s home for girls in Plumstead says it finances are sound following a funding injection from the National Lotteries Commission (NLC), but with state funding unlikely to improve, fund-raising will become ever more important.
This is according to a report by St Michael’s Children and Youth Care Centre’s treasurer, Edmore Chinhamo, which was presented at the home’s annual general meeting, held in Plumstead on Sunday September 10.
The non-profit organisation offers a place of safety for girls aged 13 to 18, with some of them coming from as far as Robertson and Vredendal.
Mr Chinhamo has left the organisation to pursue a lecturing position in England, and his report was read in his absence by the vice chair Guy Bury.
The report sheds light on the organisation’s cash flow for the April 2022- March 2023 financial year.
The year is ending off on high note, the report noted, with the home receiving R1.8 million in lottery funding in August.
The money has allowed the home to plan renovations and buy a new minibus to transport the girls to and from school and to various activities.
“Spending such a large amount of money also brings with it much responsibility, and a great deal of hard work is necessary in accessing quotes and ultimately getting value for money,” the report says.
It adds that while the organisation has much to be grateful for, money will always be tight.
“Fund-raising will become more and more important as government funding is unlikely to improve and will most likely deteriorate. Our challenge is to continue to be financially prudent and to fund-raise.”
The home’s chairwoman, Claudia Roodt, said it was through the unwavering commitment of the board members, directors, staff and volunteers that it had managed to weather the pandemic.
“There were certain changes that needed to be made and looked at especially in terms of sustainability and finances, and I really want to thank the current board this year and the members that are present here this afternoon.”
Ms Roodt said one of the highlights of the past year was a request from the Department of Social Development for St Michael’s to increase the number of girls the organisation accommodates from 25 to 30.
“I do think that the fact that they asked us to increase the number of girls shows the trust that they have in St Michael’s and the work that we do, and that is all due to our director, Rosemary Tsaurai, and the staff that she has here.”