Hello friends, the last warm weekends are upon us — the last of the summer wine, as they say. This week’s edition is all about balancing sunshine with those little things that make life easier in the UK.

Inside, we’ve got a hidden safety net most South Africans don’t know about, a line-up of rugby clashes (including the Boks vs All Blacks), and a splash of London culture — from free art to secret buildings you can step inside. Plus, something close to our hearts: a new way to get SA goodies delivered straight to your door.

It’s connection, culture, and comfort — all wrapped up with a bit of Saffa spirit.

Here’s a gem that most people in the UK miss completely: the Turn2us Grants Search tool. It’s a free site that connects you to thousands of little-known charity grants — worth anywhere from £500 to £5,000 — to help with everyday things like bills, school costs, furniture, or even emergencies.

Life has a way of throwing curveballs — the kind that catch you off guard and put real pressure on your wallet. That’s when knowing about a hidden resource like this can make all the difference.

Looking for a taste of home (or just a good excuse to gather with fellow Saffas)? Here’s what’s happening in the first week of September that’ll get the gees going:

Sunday 7 September
The Springbok Women take on hosts France in a massive Pool D clash. Expect intensity, passion, and plenty of green jerseys in pubs across the UK. A perfect excuse to round up your mates and shout for the Boks!
👉 Full World Cup schedule & fixtures

From Tuesday 2 September – 28 September, Serpentine North, London
South Africa’s own Esther Mahlangu, world-renowned for her bold Ndebele patterns, unveils a striking large-scale mural in the heart of London. It’s free, colourful, and deeply moving — a cultural must-see.
👉 Event details at Serpentine Galleries

Saturday 6 September
The rivalry that stops rugby fans in their tracks. Springboks vs All Blacks — enough said. Whether you’re in a London pub or streaming at home, this one’s unmissable.
👉 Match details & Rugby Championship fixtures

Saturday 6 September, Manx Fun Farm
Potjie competitions, boerewors rolls, touch rugby, and a “Local is Lekker” market — the Isle of Man’s SA Festival is a full-day celebration of South African food, music, and family fun. Worth the ferry ride if you’re keen for a proper community vibe.
👉 SA Festival info here

Weekend of 6–7 September, across London
For the curious explorers: hundreds of normally closed buildings and hidden gems throw open their doors. It’s not specifically South African, but it’s one of the best ways to feel at home in your new city.
👉 See the festival guide

That’s your line-up — rugby, culture, food, and a splash of London exploration. Plenty of reasons to get out (or into the pub) this week!

When South African Philip Belamant landed in the UK, he faced the same problem many of us do: no credit history, no credit card, no chance. Even with a solid career and good income, the system here didn’t recognise him. Sound familiar?

Instead of giving up, Philip got creative. That frustration became the spark for Zilch, the “buy now, pay later” fintech that’s now valued at over £1 billion and serves more than 5 million customers across the UK.

It’s a classic Saffa story — arriving with grit, spotting a gap, and building something that changes the game. Philip proved that even when the odds are stacked against you, you can still push through. In short, he was tough as a mielie cob. 🌽

Today, Zilch is one of the UK’s fastest-growing startups, but it all started with that feeling so many of us know: the door slammed in your face when you’re new here.

We studied what roofers are saying about gutter guard prices in 2025… and here’s what we found out.

Finding the best price comes down to just two simple things:

With a little help, you can find the best gutter guards at a great price.

Check out this no-cost website where you can ‘skip’ the middleman and get (fair) local pricing.

Just hit the link below, and complete a 1-minute survey to get started on finding the perfect gutter guards for your home.

Learn More

Back in South Africa, if you stopped at the edge of someone’s farm to grab a peach or a handful of grapes, you’d probably be accused of stealing — and if you were really unlucky, you might face a rock-salt shotgun blast for your trouble. (Half-joking… but only half!)

Here in the UK, it’s different. Foraging is part of the culture, and there are clear rules that make it legal — and fun. Under the Countryside and Rights of Way Act (2000), you’re allowed to collect wild plants, berries, mushrooms, and nuts for personal use, as long as you don’t dig up roots or take too much. Public footpaths and commons are open for wandering, and hedgerows bursting with blackberries are fair game.

That makes foraging feel like a little slice of freedom — a chance to step outside, stretch your legs, and gather food the old-fashioned way. Right now, the UK hedgerows are loaded with blackberries, sloes, crab apples, and hazelnuts. We tried it once and came home with purple fingers, scratched arms, and enough berries for a crumble that tasted like pure summer.

⚠️ Safety first: never eat any wild plant or mushroom unless you’re 100% sure it’s safe. Many look harmless but can be toxic — and mushrooms are especially tricky, with deadly lookalikes. If in doubt, leave it out. Stick to the easy wins (berries, nuts, fruits) and you’ll be safe.

So before the weather turns, grab your walking shoes (and maybe a basket). It’s free, it’s outdoorsy, and it’s something most South Africans never got to experience back home.

When Sarah and I first arrived in the UK, there were days we could’ve traded our left arms for a bottle of All Gold Tomato Sauce or a packet of Ghost Pops. Back then, the only way to get them was to trek all the way to London — and the prices made our eyes water.

If you’ve been there, you know the feeling: standing in a UK supermarket, surrounded by shelves of Heinz and Walkers, but nothing that tastes like home.

That’s why we’ve set up the SA Connect UK Shop. Now, even if you’re out in the sticks, you don’t have to go to London, and you don’t have to pay crazy prices. Just click a button, choose your favourites — from Ouma Rusks to Mrs Ball’s Chutney — and they’ll be delivered straight to your door.

We’re not trying to make a fortune here. Truth is, there’s no real money in it — we just want to cover our costs and make sure the newsletter pays for itself, while helping South Africans in the UK get a little taste of home.

Sometimes it’s the small comforts — a rusk with your morning coffee, or All Gold on your chips — that make life here feel a lot more like home.

Autumn might be rolling in, but the fire’s just getting started. Next week we’ll be talking about braai season in the UK — and yes, even Jono and Leigh are lighting up the barbecue, proving you don’t need South African sun to make it work.

We’ll also share a clever autumn life hack and tap into the rugby season buzz that’s building. Warmth, community, and a few laughs — that’s what’s coming your way.

That’s us for this week. Summer’s not gone yet, so grab every last bit of sunshine you can — whether it’s a braai, a walk, or just sitting in the garden with a cuppa.

And if you’ve been enjoying SA Connect UK, don’t keep it to yourself. Tell a friend, forward this email, or share the sign-up link. The more of us around the fire, the warmer it gets.

See you next week,
Troy & Sarah