get involved
first phase
Find out more about first phase work.
- The public can help us by referring street people to us, or by using the clothing voucher scheme.
- By buying a booklet of five clothing vouchers or meal vouchers you put money towards U-turns running costs and have vouchers that you can give to people who beg from you or seem to need help.
- Volunteer to be part of the first phase team going out onto the streets or serving at the shelter.
second phase
Find out more about second phase work.
- There are two ways to be involved, either directly by 'donating' your time and doing something with the residents at the shelter, or by donating items that we need to keep the shelter running efficiently.
- 'Donating' your time could include being a house parent one evening and preparing dinner, or maybe offering to teach residents about carpentry or perhaps training them how to work on our workshop equipment. If you have expertise or material we could use in an educational area like money matters, family matters or inter-personal relationship issues, that would also be welcome.
- On weekends we like to shut the shelter on Saturday and go and do something with the residents. We mostly go hiking in the mountains, but would appreciate knowledgeable guides, as we try to make these outings educational as well. If you have a yacht or climbing equipment or a farm or a factory we could organize a visit and the residents could learn about something they know nothing about.
- We are always glad to accept donations at the shelter. Specifically, basic food stuffs are needed like milk powder, rice, sugar, breakfast cereals, bread, potatoes, pizzas : ) etc. Old sport equipment (cricket sets, surfboards, soccer boots) are also welcome.
- There really are many ways to be involved and we would love to have your help.
third phase
Find out more about third phase work.
- Job placement scheme:
If you are in a position within a business to offer job training or a guaranteed first stage interview, then please contact us. - Post care:
If you have two spare hours on an afternoon during the week you can help in the follow up work by visiting U-Turn residents and clients.
u-turn relocation project
U-turn has successfully moved into the 'Powerhouse' and 'Munchies' buildings. We completed the move in the middle of June 2008. We still a have a few final tasks to complete, but the bulk of the work is done. Thank you very much for all those who supported us in the move
meal voucher neighbourhood
One of the long standing initiatives that U-turn has been promoting is a public awareness campaign called "small change makes no change". Through this campaign we're seeking to inform the public that their small change handed to people begging at the street corners and at our front doors actually makes no change in people's living conditions and sadly only serves to entrench people into a life on the streets.
As an alternative to a blanket "NO!", U-turn has therefore promoted a meal voucher system whereby members of the public can purchase meal vouchers from U-turn and pass these on to needy people who present themselves for assistance. With meal voucher in hand street people will therefore be able to get a healthy meal at one of our soup kitchens and crucially will also come into contact with our rehabilitation programmes.
In 2008 we would like to take this good concept further by launching a meal voucher neighbourhood, effectively seeking to transform an entire neighbourhood into an area that uses the meal vouchers. This 3 month campaign offers great opportunities for volunteers who would like to give something back to society. Current needs include:
- Printing of new meal vouchers that detail the details of all organisations that partner in the campaign
- Assisting with door to door drops that inform the public about the initiative
- Help us to establish links into the retail industry to ensure a wide distribution and availability of our meal vouchers.
- Donate goods that can be included in a food parcel usch as tin-food, rice and samp.
- Offering office assistance to keep the campaign going.
establishing a computer lab
U-turn has long harboured the ambition of creating a working computer lab at the U-turn centre. In January 2008 these plans took a significant step forward with the appointment of Sean Parker to the staff team. Sean has amongst other things a Computer Science degree and combined with his servant heart and gospel focus this proves to hold very exciting opportunities for the street people who wish to learn computer skills.
Now that we have successfully moved into the 'Powerhouse' behind Stadium on Main we aim to move ahead with installing the computer network.
Having already qualified for discounted software from Microsoft, one of the major obstacles we now face is the need for working computer hardware. We are currently in talks with a UK company who have indicated that they might be able to assist us by flying out a team from England to help us set up the lab. There are however lots of opportunities to get involved, some of which are listed below:
- Help us to create the network to link the computer Lab as well as another 8 staff computers into one U-turn network
- Assist us with a broadband modem for the shelter and also the running cost of keeping it going for a year (R360 x 12)
- Assist us to raise funding for Sean's salary so that the centre can continue to provide training for years to come.
graffiti removal project
The project started at the beginning of 2007 and the goal is to remove graffiti from council property. This comes with the support of the Protea sub council.
In a bid to make the project sustainable in the long run we are also doing private work. If you are aware of graffiti and are prepared to pay for its removal please contact the team
We employ four street people who are currently involved in the rehabilitation project. You can get involved in any of the following ways.
- Tell people that you know that there is a Graffiti removal team staffed by homeless people.
- Volunteer to pass on your technical skills e.g. sandblasting.
supports 4 teenage girls
Uturn supports 4 teenage girls who we met through their parents a number of years ago. In addition to supporting them financially with school fees, transport costs, clothing and food, we have some wonderful volunteers who meet with them to support and guide them emotionally and spiritually through Bible study, counselling, and social time together.
It has been such a joy to see them grow and mature into the young women that they have become. It is our hope that once they finish school they will be equipped to further their studies in their different fields of interest as they continue to live out their faith. You can get involved in any of the following ways.
- Donate items for weekly food parcels
- Assist in covering all the various schooling costs