As part of our commitment to strengthening and professionalising the after-school sector, The Learning Trust has developed this HR Manual to support community-based organisations in building stronger people management practices. The manual is the culmination of a multi-year learning journey with Social Employment Fund (SEF) implementing partners within the Catch-up Coalition, shaped by the experiences, challenges and opportunities that emerged through working alongside organisations across diverse contexts.
Throughout this process, we have learned that while many organisations are delivering exceptional work for children and young people, they often do so without the dedicated HR capacity or practical systems needed to support and grow their teams.
Good people management is about compliance, creating organisations where staff and participants are well supported, workplace practices are fair and consistent, and organisations are equipped to grow sustainably.
Developed through SEF capacity-strengthening efforts, this manual brings together practical guidance, adaptable templates and policy frameworks that organisations can tailor to their own context. It is designed to translate South African labour legislation into accessible, practical tools that strengthen recruitment, onboarding, performance management, employee wellbeing and organisational governance.
For us at The Learning Trust, this resource represents our belief that strengthening organisations from the inside out is essential to building a resilient after-school sector. Investing in the people, the systems and practices that underpin community-based organisations helps ensure they can continue delivering quality After School Programmes (ASPs), responding to changing needs and creating meaningful opportunities for children and young people beyond the classroom.
We hope this manual serves as a practical resource for ASPs and other organisations across the sector and contributes to the ongoing professionalisation of the after-school workforce, recognising that stronger organisations create stronger outcomes for the learners, young people and communities they serve.
Access the HR Manual HERE