The late, Leonard Cheshire’s vision was always that Cheshire Homes be run along the lines of a normal family home.
Our Vision
Our Mission
Our Values
Our Objectives
OUR VISION is to be part of a society where persons with disabilities have equal opportunities.
OUR MISSION is to provide care and support services that empower persons with disabilities.
To work in partnership with persons with disabilities to provide, without regard for gender, race, caste or creed, residential accommodation and other community services that promote independent living and the attainment of personal aspirations. To initiate projects that address the social and economic inequalities suffered by people with disabilities thereby contributing to the alleviation of poverty. To operate in compliance with legislation and regulations and established institutions. To conform with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, thereby achieving our vision of a society where persons with disabilities have equal opportunities.
OUR VALUES are respect for our Residents and Staff, non-discrimination in any way, good governance.
OUR OBJECTIVES
- Residential care for 57 profoundly disabled individuals who lack financial means or self-care ability.
- Professional care & support through a dedicated team.
- Assisted independent living opportunities.
- Inclusive education & development at Khaya Cheshire for disabled children.
- Empowerment & self-development for persons with disabilities.
- Experiential training for students in nursing, caregiving, biokinetics, and social work.
- Employment support for persons with disabilities.
- Day care services for disabled adults.
- Advocacy & social marketing to support disabled individuals.
- Strong partnerships with government, donors, and volunteers to further our mission.
Unless we all – passionately I am tempted to say – BELIEVE IN CHANGE, a change that leads to improvement and the gradual building of a better world, we are swimming against the tide of life.
GEOFFREY LEONARD CHESHIRE WAS BORN ON 7 SEPTEMBER 1917.
His childhood and youth were lived at the family home of Greywalls near Oxford with his parents Geoffrey and Primrose and his younger brother Christopher. Following in his father’s footsteps to study law at Oxford University, he was commissioned into the reserve of the RAF as a student. So started what was to become a legendary war career.
He served almost without interruption in Bomber Command, flying a record of one hundred bombing missions. He was the most highly decorated bomber pilot of the Second World War and received the accolade of the Victoria Cross. At one stage, he dropped a rank to take command of the famous 617 Squadron, the Dambusters.
Back as a civilian, he set up a community for ex-servicemen and women at his home Le Court in Hampshire. The scheme did not prosper but,
at the beginning of 1948 and now living alone at Le Court, he agreed to look after one of the community members who was dying of cancer and had nowhere else to go. Cheshire found others coming to him for help, and so started the work which today is carried on in his name with disabled people across the globe.
On 5 April 1959 Leonard Cheshire married Sue Ryder, whose own international charitable work was well established. Home for them and their two children was in the Suffolk village of Cavendish, though both spent a large part of the year visiting their humanitarian projects worldwide. Leonard Cheshire’s award of the Order of Merit was announced on 5 February 1981 and his elevation to the peerage on 15 June 1991.
Leonard Cheshire died from the effects of motor neurone disease on 31 July 1992.
His childhood and youth were lived at the family home of Greywalls near Oxford with his parents Geoffrey and Primrose and his younger brother Christopher. Following in his father’s footsteps to study law at Oxford University, he was commissioned into the reserve of the RAF as a student. So started what was to become a legendary war career.
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He served almost without interruption in Bomber Command, flying a record of one hundred bombing missions. He was the most highly decorated bomber pilot of the Second World War and received the accolade of the Victoria Cross. At one stage, he dropped a rank to take command of the famous 617 Squadron, the Dambusters.
Back as a civilian, he set up a community for ex-servicemen and women at his home Le Court in Hampshire. The scheme did not prosper but,
at the beginning of 1948 and now living alone at Le Court, he agreed to look after one of the community members who was dying of cancer and had nowhere else to go. Cheshire found others coming to him for help, and so started the work which today is carried on in his name with disabled people across the globe.
On 5 April 1959 Leonard Cheshire married Sue Ryder, whose own international charitable work was well established. Home for them and their two children was in the Suffolk village of Cavendish, though both spent a large part of the year visiting their humanitarian projects worldwide. Leonard Cheshire’s award of the Order of Merit was announced on 5 February 1981 and his elevation to the peerage on 15 June 1991.
Leonard Cheshire died from the effects of motor neurone disease on 31 July 1992.
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The first Cheshire Home was established in the UK in 1948 by Leonard Cheshire VC.
Cheshire Homes in South Africa is affiliated to Leonrad Cheshire International in London.
There are now more than 500 service centres in 57 countries around the world. Cheshire Home Summerstrand (opened in 1975) is one of 16 service centres in South Africa, and one of three in the Eastern Cape.
LEONARD CHESHIRE
Leonard Cheshire, from whom the organization’s name derives, was a bomber pilot in World War 11. After his war experiences, Leonard Cheshire felt a strong need to validate his life, and was drawn to the idea of service to others.
Although this desire was constantly on his mind during the following years, it was only in 1948 that it started to take concrete form – and then by chance. Leonard heard of a fellow service man, terminally ill, who was in dire straits, with no family, no means, and nowhere to go.
Leonard took him in and cared for Arthur until his death. From such a small and unplanned beginning was the world-wide Cheshire organization to grow. Today there are Cheshire organizations and Homes
all over the world.
Cheshire Homes started in South Africa in 1965. A visitor from the United Kingdom, holidaying in
Durban, realized that there was a desperate need for a service for disabled people in this country. She made contact with community leaders, committees were set up, and Cheshire Homes South Africa took its first tentative steps.
The first Home, Queensburgh, was opened in 1968. Today, there are six Branches and sixteen Homes in this country, providing residential accommodation to severely and permanently disabled adults and children.
In addition, many outreaches programmed provide services such as daycare, respite care, community-based care, soup, kitchens, the type care. These outreach programs operate from established Cheshire Homes.
There are also a number of independent living units attached to Cheshire Homes, where those residents who are sufficiently confident can live as independently as possible, secure in the knowledge that expert care is within call. Cheshire Homes continue to grow and hope in the future to offer more wide-ranging services in response to the needs of people with disabilities.
There are now more than 500 service centres in 57 countries around the world. Cheshire Home Summerstrand (opened in 1975) is one of 16 service centres in South Africa, and one of three in the Eastern Cape.
LEONARD CHESHIRE
Leonard Cheshire, from whom the organization’s name derives, was a bomber pilot in World War 11. After his war experiences, Leonard Cheshire felt a strong need to validate his life, and was drawn to the idea of service to others.
Read More
Although this desire was constantly on his mind during the following years, it was only in 1948 that it started to take concrete form – and then by chance. Leonard heard of a fellow service man, terminally ill, who was in dire straits, with no family, no means, and nowhere to go.
Leonard took him in and cared for Arthur until his death. From such a small and unplanned beginning was the world-wide Cheshire organization to grow. Today there are Cheshire organizations and Homes
all over the world.
Cheshire Homes started in South Africa in 1965. A visitor from the United Kingdom, holidaying in
Durban, realized that there was a desperate need for a service for disabled people in this country. She made contact with community leaders, committees were set up, and Cheshire Homes South Africa took its first tentative steps.
The first Home, Queensburgh, was opened in 1968. Today, there are six Branches and sixteen Homes in this country, providing residential accommodation to severely and permanently disabled adults and children.
In addition, many outreaches programmed provide services such as daycare, respite care, community-based care, soup, kitchens, the type care. These outreach programs operate from established Cheshire Homes.
There are also a number of independent living units attached to Cheshire Homes, where those residents who are sufficiently confident can live as independently as possible, secure in the knowledge that expert care is within call. Cheshire Homes continue to grow and hope in the future to offer more wide-ranging services in response to the needs of people with disabilities.
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Our Partnerships
AS A NGO WE REALIZE AND RESPECT THE NEED FOR NETWORKING AND PARTNERSHIPS. WE HAVE NUMEROUS SUCH PARTNERSHIPS THAT INVOLVE BOTH FINANCIAL SUPPORT AND GIFTS IN KIND.
