SOUL's Resource & Xchange Centre

Many people in Westlake Community in Cape Town cannot afford to purchase brand new items they need including clothes, shoes, bedding etc. Whilst some Westlake residents can afford reduced prices to buy new or second hand goods, some simply can’t and an alternative form of ‘currency’ is necessary to enable them to access goods they need. Sharing Our Ubuntu Legacy Western Cape Trust (SOUL), created an Xchange Program to create this ‘currency’ and ensure that every able-bodied South African can access the resources they need.

In partnership with Xchange Connexion, we are growing our Xchange Program model in the Westlake Community.  Our goal is to have 50 Westlake residents on our Xchange Program by the end of 2018 and to measure the impact on their lives and the Westlake Community.

ABOUT SOUL AND THE WESTLAKE RESOURCE AND XCHANGE CENTRE:
Sharing Our Ubuntu Legacy Western Cape Trust (SOUL) was founded in 2013 and aims to transform our giving culture in South Africa to grow an inclusive and sustainable nation; it does this through its Xchange Program which is being piloted in Westlake, Cape Town in partnership with Xchange Connexion. 

SOUL’s Xchange Program is based on a Give2Grow approach, encouraging community members to uplift themselves and their communities by participating in approved community projects or skills development programs. Through their participation they earn Xchange Points which they can use to access resources from our Resource and Xchange Centre which is stocked with donated new or second hand goods.

SOUL’s Xchange and Resource Centres form part of our long term strategy of making needs-based, new and quality second hand goods and donations available for those individuals with limited purchasing power and for Beneficiary Partners registered on the Xchange Program. Funds raised at the Centre enable SOUL to sustain the Xchange Program.

Services SOUL provides the Resource and Xchange Centre:

• Sourcing resources for the Centre: We advocate for resources for our customers and Xchange Program Beneficiary Partners based on their needs. We engage with local businesses and residents to facilitate an easy donation portal;
• Stock Control for the Resource and Xchange Centre: We collect, sort and manage distribution of donations;
• Training: we work with our Westlake-based assistants to train them to work in the Centre, ensuring sound governance and good customer service.