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31
Advice Leaflets
The Council arrange for the distribution of copies of a
pamphlet giving information on the services available to old people
individually or through a club.
The Ministry of Pensions and National Insurance made
arrangements, as from 31st January, 1961, to send to every person in
London reaching retirement pension age, a leaflet giving general
information on welfare services for old people.
This action was initiated by the London County Council Central
Consultative Committee on the Welfare of Old People, which has the
support of Old People's Welfare Committees in all metropolitan boroughs.
Each Old People's Welfare Committee is responsible for the
cost of printing these leaflets but,as they are basically similar for
each borough, costs have been low, and the initial supply for each
borough will not cost more than £4.
These leaflets are not intended to replace the informative
pamphlets issued by the Kensington Old People's Welfare Committee, but
to ensure that the services are brought to the notice of people when
they first become pensioners.
S.O.S. Cards
Window display cards are provided by the Council, bearing the
letters "S.O.S." in red on one side, and on the reverse side directions
how to use the card, with space for particulars of next-of-kin or
nearest relative. These cards are distributed to appropriate old
people. Any person seeing one of the cards in a window is able to
summon help from one of the sources given on the back of the card. The
local press have generously assisted in making this service known.
Grants to Clubs, etc.
Under Section 31 of the National Assistance Act, 1948, the
Council can make contributions to voluntary bodies whose activities
include the provision of recreation or meals for old people.
During the year grants were made as follows:-
(a) The Kensington Communal Kitchen Service were
granted £500 as a contribution towards the
cost of operating a Meals-on-Wheels service
in co-operation with the Kensington Women's
Voluntary Services.
(b) The West London Old Age Pensioners' Angling
Competition Committee were granted £5 towards
the cost of their annual competition.
(c) The Merrymakers Old People's Club, at the
Community Centre, Dalgarno Gardens, were
granted £12 towards the purchase of equipment
and the replacement of crockery.
(d) The Kensington Old People's Welfare Committee
which acts as a co-ordinating Committee through
which the various voluntary bodies can ask for
assistance from the Council, were granted £35
to assist in meeting their general expenditure
which had, up to this year, been financed by
the Kensington Council of Social Service.