About Us
Early Childhood Development
Many of the children who arrive at our Home have not had the chance to grow and develop normally. A healthy and nutritious diet, suitable exercise and the mental development of our children are therefore of great importance. With this in mind we run a crèche weekdays from 08:00 to 11:45 where we develop the children mentally, physically, emotionally and socially.
There are three sections:
Group A – birth to 18 months
Group B – 18 months to 3 years
Group C – 3 to 5 year olds
We also run as a pre-primary school where the children are taught according to the Grade R syllabus, thus preparing them for the real school. This is important, because many of the children leave at the end of the year when they turn six and then go straight into Grade 1. Our staff members include a social worker and 21 full-time staff members as well as several part-time staff members who care for the babies and children 24 hours of every day.
We work to change the lives of those who need it most
History
The origins of the Christine Revell Children’s Home go back more than 60 years, having been started by a community worker, Christine Revell, to care for young unwed mothers. The Uniting Reformed Church later transformed it into a children’s home and place of safety for babies and small children and named it after Christine Revell. The Home is registered with the Department of Social Services of the Western Cape and receives a small monthly subsidy per child. For all other needs the Home depends on donations.
Trust
In 2000, the Church established a Trust that took over ownership and management of the Home. According to its trust deed (IT 1921/2000) the Christine Revell Children’s Home Trust consists of between five and eleven trustees, five of them nominated by the Uniting Reformed Church and five nominated from the broader community. The eleventh member of the trust is the Director ex officio. The Trust meets four times and takes the necessary policy and financial decisions according to which the Home is run.
Management Committee
There is a management committee that meets once a month with the director. The committee consists of volunteers who support and advise the director. A wide variety of skills is required, including human resources management, financial management, PR and marketing, medical and nursing expertise, general management and building and maintenance expertise. These portfolios all form part of the director’s duties.
Facilities
We are housed in a solid double-storey building with a garden and outside play areas for the children, several areas for in-door activities, a large laundry and kitchen, bedrooms and child-friendly bathrooms, as well as offices for the staff.