A home for the profoundly intellectually and physically disabled
Help save Woodside Sanctuary from imminent closure, due to lack of funds
There are currently 84 people, aged from 3 to 67, with severe to profound intellectual disability in full-time residential care at Woodside Sanctuary.
Your donations will help to ensure these vulnerable residents continue to have a place to call home, with best practice nursing, mental and physical stimulation and well-being programmes.
Woodside Sanctuary is in Johannesburg South Africa, founded in 1955 by Vernon and Norah Veale after the birth of their first child with Spina bifida, whose short life led its establishment.
Today their daughter, Patricia Veale, has launched Friends of Woodside Sanctuary in Sydney, Australia.
After 68 years of care, love and service to the profoundly disabled, Woodside Sanctuary’s doors face imminent closure through lack of funds. Patricia is partnering with Woodside and through Rotary Australia World Community Service (RAWCS) helping to raise funds to keep Woodside’s doors open.
Donations are tax deductible, collected and distributed through Rotary Australia World Community Service (RAWCS).
CONTACT: Patricia Veale
email: patriciaveale9@gmail.com
The challenges we face – a critical stage in our history
Woodside Sanctuary and their supporters have always worked hard to raise funds and awareness, but COVID saw reserves dry up, and since then donations have also reduced significantly.
In October 2023, Auditors JD Hill & Company Chartered Accountants (South Africa) advised Woodside Sanctuary that there were insufficient liquid funds to cover their debts.
Urgent fund-raising appeals, along with a negotiated delayed payment with its largest creditor, Feedem (food and labour), of R1.3 million (approximately AUD$105,000), bought time to raise more funds, and in November 2023 auditors advised that Woodside would be liquid and solvent for a further 12 months.
The Auditors will review our situation in October 2024. By then we need to raise R2 million (approximately AUD$161,000) to keep Woodside Sanctuary's doors open.
All donations are greatly appreciated, they are the life blood of Woodside, and the only way we can continue to care for our residents.
If Woodside’s doors close, residents will be relocated to institutions that face issues like overcrowding and bureaucratic inefficiencies, and many of Woodside’s residents would simply not survive the trauma of relocation.
Patricia Veale at Woodside Sanctuary, the framed photo of her father, Vernon Veale, above her. He was the inaugural Chairman, rotating with others over the years, all of whom have made significant contributions to Woodside over its 68 years. Vernon retained his devotion and interest in Woodside’s ongoing viability and success right to the day he died on 20 October 2015.
The devastating news that Woodside is in urgent need of financial support inspired Patricia Veale, daughter of Vernon and Norah, to initiate and manage Friends of Woodside Sanctuary from Sydney, Australia.
Patricia is passionate that the care and service Woodside Sanctuary provides for its very special and loved residents can continue - providing them with protection and a nurturing home - as well as their broader contribution towards growing community awareness and uplifting skills in the standard of care in the sector for the profoundly intellectually and physically disabled.
Rotary Australia World Community Service (RAWCS) endorses this project.
They provide governance of funds, sent from RAWCS directly to Woodside Sanctuary, and monitor reporting of use of the funds.
There has been a Rotarian on the Woodside Sanctuary committee since the very beginning, so the association with RAWCS holds special relevance to Patricia and Woodside Sanctuary. Patricia is a member of the Rotary Club of North Sydney Sunrise, Australia.
Bringing joy and love to the people of Woodside Sanctuary
The joy and inspiration the staff bring to the lives of their precious residents extends beyond standard care requirements.
Watch this video to see staff and residents in action participating in the ‘Jarusalema dance challenge’ - you’ll need sound for this video, the music is wonderful!
Woodside is a place of safety, security, love, learning, and assured dignity.
Lifelong care for individuals with profound intellectual disabilities requires round-the-clock support in compliant facilities from trained professionals to meet their complex needs.
All Woodside Sanctuary residents have access to integrated multidisciplinary care and services:
Medical and Psychiatric Assessment: Medical Practitioner; Prescription of treatment; Review of Medication
Nursing care plans; daily monitoring
Occupational and stimulation therapy, socialisation and learning
Physical therapy
Nutritional meals
Founded in 1955 and situated in Cottesloe, Johannesburg, the Sanctuary is a registered PBO and NPO. The Sanctuary is licensed under the Mental Health Care Act, No. 17 of 2002, to provide full-time residential and day care services to individuals with severe to profound intellectual and physical disabilities.
To read the stories of Woodside residents, scroll through using arrows.
