In the quiet suburb of Vasco Estate, Cape Town, a small but vital sanctuary for young adults with special needs is now racing against time.
The Vasco Special Needs Centre (VSNC), which has been operating out of church-provided premises since its founding in 2016, must secure new facilities by December 2025 or risk closure.
After nearly a decade of nurturing and empowering individuals on the autism spectrum, its future now depends on community support, donations and swift action.
What VSNC does
Founded by families who understand firsthand the challenges of raising neurodiverse children, VSNC serves as a sheltered workshop and life-skills centre.
At its core, the centre provides a safe, structured environment where 12 young adults learn practical vocational and daily living skills: crafting, basic meal preparation, household chores, social interaction and creative expression.
These activities are more than therapies, they cultivate dignity, purpose, routine and inclusion. VSNC emphasises that each individual’s abilities are celebrated every day.
The centre operates with a small but dedicated team, including a Centre Supervisor and assistants, entirely sustained through donations, fundraising and community support, receiving no consistent government funding.
The relocation crisis
For nine years, the Evangelical Lutheran Church graciously hosted VSNC’s operations rent-free, covering only utility costs and offering a modest R50,000 annual sponsorship.
However, in May 2025 the church announced it would not renew the lease beyond 30 September 2025, leaving VSNC with no home and insufficient funds to secure or equip alternative premises.
The centre is now issuing an urgent plea to businesses, individuals, property owners and the City of Cape Town.
What they seek is not luxurious – just a functional facility with multiple workrooms, a kitchen, small shop, outdoor space and accessible bathrooms.
If unable to relocate, VSNC warns it may be forced to shut down, leaving vulnerable young adults without their safe place of purpose and community.
How you can help
- Donate – monthly giving is especially valued: whether R100 or R1,000, every rand helps. (vsnc.co.za)
- Offer premises or rent assistance – any suitable space may help avoid closure.
- Fund equipment and furnishing – workbenches, chairs, kitchen fittings, etc.
- Raise awareness – share VSNC’s story among networks, businesses, and government contacts.
This is more than a relocation issue; it’s how society cares for its most vulnerable.
VSNC has already shown what is possible when love, creativity and community converge.
VSNC currently runs a BackaBuddy campaign: VSN Centre – Help to Find a Home. (backabuddy.co.za)
To get involved or learn more, visit the VSNC website (vsnc.co.za) or contact them via info@vsnc.co.za. (vsnc.co.za)
As a registered Non-Profit Organisation (NPO) and Public Benefit Organisation (PBO), VSNC can issue Section 18A tax certificates for monetary donations.
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