Bishop Simeon Trust

Tecford:
The Enablement Centre for Disabled people

Sarah Monare, a wheelchair user, helped establish Tecford in 1987 to provide training, employment, social and sporting opportunities to those with physical and learning disabilities from the township of Jouberton, outside Klerksdorp. Sarah, a Paralympics medallist, now manages the Centre.

In a bleak and highly disadvantaged area, Tecford is a source of hope for the 60 members who make up the disabled community here. The Centre earns a modest income from its contracts with local businesses and schools to make equipment and clothing. For example, under an ongoing contract with a local gold mine, Tecford’s members make special clamps to hold the water hoses to the mine shafts. T shirts and school uniforms are also made to order by the ladies in the sewing department.

Regular grants from the Bishop Simeon Trust have enabled Tecford to buy much-needed equipment over the years, such as screen printing equipment and a T shirt finishing machine. More recently, the Trust has helped Tecford to embark on HIV/Aids Awareness campaigns among the disabled community. Every May the Centre organises a remembrance service involving the local community and dignitaries, often more than 300 people in all. The Trust is also helping Tecford with its fundraising.

Current needs:

A little while ago, Tecford’s minibus was ‘hijacked’ (the driver was stopped and the vehicle stolen at gunpoint) and the Centre is desperate for another vehicle. Having evaluated their needs, Tecford’s members have decided to sell their ancient (and extremely costly) large coach, and buy a smaller bus adapted for wheelchairs. This will mean that wheelchair users can come to the Centre, rather than being isolated at home. The bus will also take the wonderful Tecford choir, and its active wheelchair basketball team, to practise and participate in events and competitions all over the province, thus considerably enhancing members’ quality of life.

A new, specially adapted bus will cost about £32,000. So far, about £8,000 has been raised towards this, mostly by a couple of Devon families who cycled from Land’s End to John O’Groats in August 2008 (see News section, and Our Supporters). This leaves £24,000 still to be found. If you can help, please contact us.

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