The “Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals” (this includes farm animals and wild life) is part of a worldwide organization that has given over 100 years of service to communities in South Africa. The Swartland and West Coast SPCA has been in existence in Darling since 1992, covering the Magisterial Districts of Malmesbury, Hopefield, Saldanha Bay & Piketberg which is a vast area of over 10 000 square km².

• We respond to emergency calls of animal cruelty and investigate reports of animal abuse or neglect and where necessary rescue animals and file charges with the police for further investigation and prosecution.
• Since we receive NO Government or Provincial Grants each District SPCA is responsible for financing it's own operation which is mostly done by on-going fundraising efforts and donations
• Deal with animal related difficulties, for example feral cats at business premises and stray animals on the roads
• We sterilize animals to control numbers of strays and unwanted animals.
• We are working towards an ongoing outreach program in the disadvantaged communities which would include regular clinics, field worker activities and large scale sterilizations
• Investigate illegal or abusive animal practices such as dog fighting
• Encourage the conservation of wild animals as part of an environmental policy
• Lost animals are brought to the SPCA and are kept at the kennels for a 7 (seven) day period. This is to allow the legal owner time to claim their pet back. If the dog or cat (or any other animal) is not claimed by the owner it is then put up for adoption. All animals are sterilized before adoption and a pre home check is done.

Inspired by Oprah Winfrey’s Angel Network

Our vision is to establish a network of caring community members in Darling who will make a difference in others’ lives by providing relief from suffering to give them a chance to heal, or find the “next step”in rising to their potential.

The Darling Angels operate as a network of members of our community who wish to be of service through providing a resource by donating either their time, money, goods or services. It also acts as eyes and ears in the village to locate those who are suffering and in need of help.

The resources donated will be for individuals, families, or groups who need a push start for something important, who have an emergency, or an urgent need. The trust is not for luxuries - it is to provide a miracle blessing when there seems to be no hope. There are already organisations in Darling dealing with the big socio-economic challenges. This organisation is concerned with small acts of kindness towards those who would otherwise slip below the radar.

A core group of volunteers meet on a regular basis to report on needs in the community and available resources. We choose to operate, for the most part, anonymously, as we feel this will keep the focus on the work to be done. The organisation is non-hierarchical: anyone can attend meetings and any major roles will be rotated, such as spokes person, etc.

We are blessed when we are able to turn our attention away from ourselves, towards others who are in need. Being of service facilitates joy and so we extend hope, help, compassion and joy like a rainbow over Darling.

Anyone can be an Angel!

The Darling Trust was set up in 2003 to assist the previously disadvantaged communities of Darling. We aim to empower individuals to help themselves, mainly through participation in the sectors of education, skills development and health.

We are currently involved in the following projects: Senior Citizen Outreach, Darling Parenting Programme, Darling Early Literacy Project, Darling AHA-Read, the Darling Craft Cooperative, transport for People Living with HIV/AIDS to the ARV Clinic in Malmesbury, transport for disabled children to Wilge Day Care Centre in Atlantis, art and music lessons, and a number of other projects.

One of our major projects is the Darling Health and Sport Centre. It was initiated by our patron Pieter-Dirk Uys, together with the philanthropist, Ms Sabine Plattner, co-founder of the Fancourt Foundation. Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu, humanitarian and Nobel Peace Prize winner, is also a patron of the project. The plan is to construct a health and sport centre in Darling. This will provide the youth with opportunities for productive and safe recreation. The Centre will consist of a pool, ablution facilities and pump-house and a general activity room and will be built next to the clinic. By incorporating these two structures it is hoped that a message of good health, the importance of prevention and the de-stigmatisation of disease, specifically HIV/AIDS, will be encouraged.

We are passionate about our community and it is a privilege to work together towards ‘making the dream of a better life a reality’.