Real Change
Equipping with skills for people to overcome homelessness
Skills for people to Overcome homelessness
Who are we?
UK Registered Charity
U-turn Outreach (Registered Charity No. 1196785) is a UK-registered charity that raises funds and builds links across the United Kingdom to support U-turn South Africa’s programmes that equip people and communities in South Africa with the skills to overcome homelessness.
U-turn South Africa provides the local programme expertise, guidance and oversight; U-turn Outreach transfers UK-raised funds to those programmes under its grant-making policy and memorandum of understanding, with board oversight. Each year U-turn South Africa assists around 4,000 people across South Africa. Based on six-month follow-up over the last three years, more than 80% of U-turn graduates remain sober, employed and housed after graduation.
Meet Our Board Of Trustees
Keenan Carelse
Richard Wood
Mike Bansback
Jonathan Hopkins
What’s the problem?
The cost of homelessness in South Africa
We know that keeping someone on the street costs significantly more than the cost of rehabilitating them and giving them a future.
A 2020 independent study, the first of its kind in Africa, tracked the costs for judiciary, medical and social assist the homeless, as well as additional costs, like costs for businesses. There is also a human cost. The study showed we are reacting to homelessness, not solving it.
Over 14,000 people were sleeping rough in Cape Town in 2020, that number has increased. It cost Cape Town GBP 35m responding to homelessness, but over 45% of that was punitive reactive measures. Only 16% of that spend went to development, long term solutions.
What if we spent more on resolving homelessness than reacting to homelessness? What would that mean for individuals? What would it mean for the South African community?
Long term effective results
The U-turn programme has been refined over 25 years
%
Remain Employed
%
Remain Sober
%
In Formal Housing
U-turn Social Enterprises
Our Social Enterprises provides income and upskilling to our Champions as they journey through the U-turn programme
Digital Solutions for Good
Connect Solutions
Connect Solutions is a Cape Town-based technology hub dedicated to empowering organizations with digital tools that drive meaningful results. We collaborate with both nonprofit organizations and SMEs to create custom websites, Salesforce solutions, and I.T. services tailored to your mission and goals.
Whether you’re working to make a social impact or grow your business, our team is here to support you with innovative, reliable, and scalable tech solutions that help you do more, better.
Cultivating Lives, One Plant at a Time
Living Roots
Living Roots is a social enterprise that provides water-wise, indigenous vegetation, sustainable gardening services, as well as training and consultancy services.
Living Roots forms part of the U-turn programme that offers pathways out homelessness. Your business provides work opportunities for individuals who have worked hard to turn their lives around.
Where Every Purchase Powers Change
Uturn Second-Hand Shops
U-turn’s retail social enterprise transforms second-hand goods into opportunities for change.
Shops sell pre-loved clothing, furniture, and household items, funding rehabilitation and support programs. Each store doubles as a training hub, equipping formerly homeless individuals with retail and life skills.
Affordable prices make quality items accessible, while every purchase supports someone’s journey to independence. Through donations and sales, U-turn gives both goods and people a meaningful second chance.
Effective Life Change
U-turn provides a life change pathway out of homelessness by providing tools and skills to individuals and communities from basic needs, through to work and life skills.