PATCH is a non-profit organization, managed by voluntary community members. We are registered as a section 21 (non-profit) company,with a board of directors, to ensure continuity of our operations. We are celebrating our 12th birthday in 2004. We receive no State subsidy. All running costs have to be met from fundraising projects convened by a small group of voluntary fundraisers, and the generosity of the people of the Helderberg. PATCH (Prevention And Treatment of Child abuse in the Helderberg) specializes in the prevention and treatment of child sexual abuse and employs a unit manager, 4 social workers (therapy) and an auxillary social worker (prevention) to deal with all reported cases of child sexual abuse in the Helderberg. Our main referral sources are the police, schools clinics and welfare agencies. We work closely with medical staff from Hottentots Holland Hospital, where the District Surgeon examines all child victims.

PATCH provides the following services: 

A 24-hour Crisis Service

Free professional therapy

Prevention programmes to schools 

Court preparation

Parent Support Groups

Statistics show that child sexual abuse is an ongoing reality and that 1 girl in 3, and 1 boy in 6 is likely to be sexually abused before the age of 18. Child sexual abuse is an issue crying out for the attention of our entire community. PATCH is finding it more difficult to deal with the continuous increase in reported cases. An average of 30 new cases are referred to PATCH monthly. During August 2003, 49 new cases were reported to PATCH. At any given time we have a minimum of 180 child clients in therapy. The cost of treating one child victim of sexual abuse amounts to R 1700, whereas the cost of presenting a prevention programme amounts to R 20 per child.

We need your help to continue to offer hope and healing to these young victims, to ensure that they will become the healthy and responsible adults of the Helderberg community of tomorrow. PATCH is reaching out to children of all parts of the community, from Raithby to Lwandle. Please help us rebuild the lives of our many broken child victims by making a contribution

You are more than welcome to visit PATCH. Please contact our unit manager Monica Fölscher, tel: 021-8526110 for more information or to make an appointment.

OUR MAIN OFFICE IS IN SOMERSET WEST. WE HAVE SATELLITE OFFICES IN MACASSAR, STRAND, RUSTHOF, LWANDLE, NOMZAMO, SIR LOWRY'S PASS AND GORDON'S BAY.