A person looking out over the Deep South community

Mental well-being is the turning point for
learning & earning a living.

Upside trains volunteer lay counsellors and delivers low-cost, confidential counselling to communities across Cape Town — so that emotional strain doesn’t become the reason someone drops out of school or loses a livelihood.

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Get counselling

Why mental well-being first?

When someone’s emotional health is left unsupported, it rarely stays contained — it shows up as a child who stops attending school, or an adult who can’t hold down a job or a family in disarray. Upside intervenes directly at that root, so the effects on education and employability never take hold.

Book a confidential session with a trained community counsellor — free or low-cost, no judgment, no waiting list to nowhere.

How it works WhatsApp us

Counselling

Confidential, low-cost support

Trained volunteer lay counsellors offer one-on-one sessions to individuals and families who could not otherwise access professional help.

Education

Keeping learners in school

Targeted interventions with learners and schools address the emotional barriers that most often lead to disengagement and dropout.

Employability

Steady enough to work

We support adults to stabilise emotionally so they can pursue and sustain employment, training and income-generating opportunity.

Get involved

Want to help others heal?
Train, volunteer, or fund the work.

Become an accredited community counsellor, offer your time, or partner with Upside as a Business, school or church. There are many ways to get involved with UPside. Find the option that's right for you.

Volunteer

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Volunteer with us

Get Trained

Become an accredited community counsellor

Our two CPSC-registered courses turn community members into skilled, supervised counsellors — building Upside’s own counselling capacity while leaving every graduate with a recognised qualification. Start with the Basic Course; the Advanced Course builds on it for those ready to carry a fuller caseload.

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Donate

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Support our work

Corporate Social Investment

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Upside’s counselling and training work map directly onto your B-BBEE Skills Development and Socio-Economic Development spend — proven in practice through our Ocean View High School partnership.

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Community members working together at an UPside project

Better people.
Stronger communities.

UPside Community Services NPC works alongside individuals and communities, helping people rise above challenges through emotional support, skills development and educational opportunities.

1,200+: People supported through counselling
3,400: Counselling appointments delivered
850: People trained
24: Community projects & partnerships

Figures shown are placeholders pending verification for the latest reporting period.

Learn more about UPside

Our partners