Structure

Cheshire Homes South Africa is built on a bottom-up model, meaning decisions start at community level and move upward, rather than being imposed from the top down. Each home is deeply rooted in its local community and guided by the people closest to the residents.

Every facility is supported by three key groups:

a Residents’ Committee, which ensures the voices of residents are heard;
a Home Management Committee, made up of family members, guardians, and community supporters working alongside the home’s manager; and
a Home Board, responsible for oversight, accountability, and good governance.

Members of these groups are community stakeholders who give their time, skills, and experience to strengthen each home. From this group, board members are selected for a term based on their integrity, relevant skills, and commitment to the wellbeing of residents and the sustainability of the facility.

Each facility’s board appoints a chairperson, who represents the home at provincial level. Facility managers also participate in provincial discussions. While they do not vote, their daily involvement with residents makes their input invaluable.

At provincial level, chairpersons elect a Provincial Branch Chair, and managers select a Branch Manager Representative. Together, they ensure collaboration, shared learning, and consistent standards across homes in the province.

Once a year, at the Annual General Meeting, chairpersons from across the country elect five representatives to serve on the National Board of Cheshire Homes South Africa. The National Board is responsible for overall governance, compliance with legal and regulatory requirements, and protecting the integrity of the Cheshire Homes brand nationwide.

The National Office works in support of the National Board by implementing its mandate, strengthening governance, sharing resources, and providing hands-on support to homes that may be facing challenges.

This structure ensures that donor support directly benefits residents, while maintaining strong accountability, transparency, and community ownership at every level of the organisation.