Novalis House in Blue Hills seeks assistance for expansion

The Blue Hills organisation Novalis House is working on an expansion to benefit their residents.

The organisation hopes to expand its current operation with residential facilities and an area to facilitate their workshop programme for youth and adults with intellectual disabilities. The workshop programme, which sees the residents engage in contract work during the day, previously operated from the organisation’s property in Linden before the two properties were consolidated in 2017.

General manager of Novalis House Mary Owen said, “The building of a new dining hall and central kitchen was completed at the end of 2018 using the proceeds from the sale of the Linden property. This has provided an area where everyone can participate in meals and recreational activities.”

The Blue Hills property has seen a number of developments over the years including the establishment of a recreational park in 2011 and a 150-seat amphitheatre in 2017. However, the organisation has greater dreams of expansion for the future.

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Owen said, “The dream for the future is to add on to the existing buildings and to increase the capacity of the residence to accommodate between 60 and 80 residents and to build a workspace where 100 people can work in a comfortable working environment.

“At present, the work programme is being run in the new dining hall building and other temporary spaces where 37 youth and adults with intellectual disabilities participate daily. Although the workspaces are less than ideal, the day programme continues to run successfully.”

The organisation hopes to build a new workshop that would accommodate 100 people. “This will allow for the expansion of the work and day programmes, which will provide a much-needed service to families whose children, or family members, have reached school-leaving age.”

They are currently calling on potential donors that could assist in the funding or donation of building materials to get the project underway. “Through creating awareness of the need to provide a facility where adults with intellectual disabilities can be supported in a safe and caring environment, any assistance toward reaching the dreams and goals of the organisation would be very much valued and appreciated.”

Details: www.novalishouse.org

Related Article: 

https://www.citizen.co.za/midrand-reporter/232066/novalis-house-shares-their-successes-gratitude-and-prospects/