Child welfare needs funding
The Greater Benoni Child Welfare (GBCW) is running at a loss.
They held their annual general meeting (AGM) in Northmead on September 17.
The organisation focuses on child protection, the counselling of children and placing homeless and abused children into either foster care or at a later stage, for adoption.
It was concluded that due to several expenses such as renovations, a new vehicle and severance pay of two staff members, the organisation faced a loss of R203 289 for the year 2016.
Other expenses were the purchase of two additional laptops to improve service delivery and accumulated leave.
A subsidy from the Department of Social Development (DSD) resulted in the employment of more staff.
The year did see some success in fund-raising income, which increased from R11 769 in 2015 to R85 432.
In the meeting, it was also noted that the charity shops received a sum total of R178 355,77.
The Ladies Tea was also a success and will continue to be an annual event; the non-profit organisation is looking for alternative methods to raise money however.
“Sponsorship and donations of both financial and products continue to be adversely affected by the depressed economy,” said the treasurer, Malanie Haggard.
“Strategies to source funding have been put in place.”
Chairperson of the GBCW, Mary Goby, said the organisation is in need of a stable income of food, clothes and household goods.
“Anyone who wants to contribute, is welcome to come past the offices to give their donations,” Goby added.
“We also need anyone who can render their services including plumbing and so forth – to please help.”
All items for donation can be dropped off at the GBCW charity shops, or the premises on One Third Avenue.
The NPO also thanked their sponsors for their donations and informed the members of new sponsors who came on board in March this year.
The DSD signed the service Level Agreement for another year (being revised in 2017), providing additional funding of six per cent for the Parenting Skills Group.
The total for salaries increased from R113 230 in 2015 to R800 758 in 2016 for social staff and R109 899 to R275 848, for administration staff.
Future prospects for the organisation include the renovation of the Daveyton office, Colin House Child and Youth Care Centre and the administration building, among others.
Overall, despite the loss, GBCW is looking forward to a better year ahead filled with future prospects, brainstorming ideas for new fund-raisers and making full use of the donations from their current sponsors.
Their current urgent needs are a lounge suite, a 10-seater bus, groceries and clothes for the children at Colin House CYCC, plus a vehicle for the social workers to do home visits.
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