Novalis House shares their successes, gratitude and prospects

General manager of Novalis House in Blue Hills Mary Owen writes:

Novalis House operates from a 12-acre smallholding in Blue Hills, Midrand, where adults with intellectual disabilities can live and work in a safe and congenial environment. Here, full-time residential care as well as a day programme providing developmental and stimulation programmes, are provided.

Novalis recently consolidated its two facilities, when the protective workshop previously running from Linden, was moved to the Blue Hills Residential facility in Midrand. As a result of the consolidation, 2019 saw the completion of a new dining hall and central kitchen building, improvements to the property and gardens, upgrading of houses, and the establishment of an exciting new charity shop project.

2019 proved to be a very busy and successful year in the Contract Workshop, where the Novalis residents and day workers participate daily in packaging, mailing and assembly work.

Novalis House currently has vacancies in the residence and day workshop and in 2020 the aim is to fill these vacancies and to run at full capacity. A bus service operating daily from Linden to Blue Hills, to provide transport for day attendees living on this route, will continue.

The building of a new workshop is prioritised as the next big project to be undertaken, as the work programme is currently running from the new dining hall facility. The planned new workshop will include a work area for 100 people, as well as storage facilities for the contract work while it is on-site. This can only be achieved through the support of potential donors and in 2020 funding will be sought for this project.

The organisation relies heavily on income from fees, workshop contract sales, fundraising activities and donations to sustain its operations. The cost of employing skilled and experienced personnel, food and cleaning costs, security costs and maintenance of the property buildings, vehicles and equipment is very high, and constantly increasing.

The board of directors, management, staff and beneficiaries of Novalis House would like to say a very big thank you to their funders and donors for their generous support during 2019, to the volunteers who have given so much of their time and expertise to help them to reach their goals, and to the companies who have continued to support them with contract work throughout the past year, and wish everyone a joyous festive season and every blessing for 2020.

Details: www.novalishouse.org