Joseph Baynes Child & Youth Care Centre
The General and World President of Women’s Ministries visited Joseph Baynes Child & Youth Care Centre today in celebration of their 100 year anniversary of serving the vulnerable children of Pietermaritzburg. Joseph Baynes Child & Youth Care Centre’s mission is to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ and meet human need in His name without discrimination by providing a compassionate residential facility
for children. The dignity, self worth, rights and responsibilities of the individual resident,
family and staff will be respected, and through care, management and treatment, children
will be helped to reach their full potential as responsible members of the community.
In the early 1920’s Joseph Baynes handed over the buildings which had housed his wool
factory, to James Hay, High Commissioner of the Salvation Army. His wish was that homes
would be developed for men and one for boys. As a result, when the Salvation Army began
discussing growth plans for its work in Pietermaritzburg, Joseph Baynes donated one of his
disused factories as a gift, to be used as a Boy’s Home and Men’s Home.
On 8 March1923 in the presence of the city dignitaries and the Territorial Commander of
the Salvation Army in South Africa (Commissioner Hay), Joseph and Sarah Baynes opened
the doors to the Boy’s Home. Prior to the opening of the Children’s Home, Joseph Baynes
had met the Founder of the Salvation Army, William Booth, on a voyage to England and
had been impressed by the aims and methods of the Salvation Army.
In 1950, the Boy’s Home moved to Royston Road, Mountain Rise. The Home was moved again to 89 Trelawney Road, Pentrich, where it was officially opened on 5 October 1968. The Home has always sought to respond to the needs of the community. As a result, it was decided in 1992 to admit girls to the Home and re-register as a Children’s Home. At the same time there was an increasing need for a facility to care for HIV positive babies. Our Home responded to this need and was the first Residential Child Care facility in Kwa Zulu Natal to provide care and a home for HIV positive children. In 2015 in compliance with the new Child Care Act the children’s home was reregistered and changed its name from Joseph Baynes Children’s Home to Joseph Baynes Child & Youth Care Centre (CYCC).
100 years later, the home is still managed by The Salvation Army and looks after 81 children
from infant to matric age. The majority of the children are from disadvantaged
backgrounds irrespective of colour, race and religion. We receive a subsidy from the
Department of Social Development which helps in the running costs of the home. We have
30 staff members which includes a social worker, centre manager, cooks, cleaning staff, driver,
maintenance, gardeners and our trained auxiliary care givers who are there to care for the
children.
Our home continues to be full to capacity. We constantly receive phone calls for new
admissions. Some children are sent to places of safety until a bed becomes available. We
work very closely with case workers of various agencies and are also involved in the reunification of children with their families and potential foster care families.
Since 1923, more than 1500 children have entered through the doors of Joseph Baynes. Even though these children have experienced some form of trauma and sadness in their lives – they will leave knowing that they were loved unconditionally. We give God thanks for His grace and goodness in the century that has passed and trust in His faithfulness for the century to come as we continue love, nurture and serve the children He entrusts into our care.
