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29
EXTRACTS FROM THE ANNUAL REPORT OF THE FULHAM
OLD PEOPLES WELFARE COMMITTEE
I AM INDEBTED TO THE SECRETARY MR. C. F. THATCHER, LL. B.,
FOR THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION
"Meals on Wheels"
In July 1956 we were advised by the wandsworth Old People' s Welfare Committee that
principally due to transport difficulties they had decided to withdraw from the scheme in
which they and the Fulham Old People's Welfare Committee obtained meals from the South
London Catering Company for "Meals on Wheels" and luncheon clubs, and to obtain meals
from another source. Under the scheme existing at the time the caterers were guaranteed
a figure of 700 meals a week for the two Committees and it was obvious that without the
assistance of Wandsworth, Fulham alone could no longer guarantee this figure. Consulta tion
took place with the caterers who agreed to enter into a new arrangement with us for
a guaranteed figure of 300 meals a week if the price was raised from 1s. 7d. to 1s. 9d.
per meal Such an arrangement was entered into in September 1956 and about the same
time the London County Council agreed to increase its subsidy by an extra 2d. per meal for
all meals supplied under the scheme so that in effect no increase became payable either
by the pensioners or by the Committee. The charge of 1s. 9d. is made up as follows:-
Grant from the London County Council
10d.
Payable by pensioners
10d.
Charge for washing utensils etc (payable by Committee)
1d.
ls. 9d.
By virtue of the increased price the caterer was able to improve the quality of the
meals supplied. The number has increased and at present averages 350 a week - well
above the guaranteed figure.
We were very pleased to receive a grant of £43 from the past Mayor (Councillor F.
Desborough, J. P. ) towards the cost of a new type of meal container for the meals service
which, when installed, will enable the meals to be kept hot whilst in transit by means of
charcoal burners. In order to accommodate the new containers the internal construction
of the van has to be modified and the Borough Surveyor has been asked to deal with this.
The cost of the containers, excluding the modifications required to the van, is approximately
£100. Whilst the initial expenditure may be regarded as rather high it is nevertheless
felt to be justified inasmuch as the new containers will render the meals much
more attractive at the time the food is served
Special thanks are due to the W. V. S. who provide voluntary helpers to carry out this
important service on five days a week throughout the year.
Invalid Meals for London
This organisation continues to provide an essential service in the regular delivery
of meals to housebound pensioners needing invalid diets. The service is not exclusively
for the elderly but pensioners form the largest proportion of recipients. Since the
service was started the Council through the Fulham Old People's Welfare Committee has
made annual grants to Invalid Meals for London and for the year 1957-58 the amount
contributed will be £800.
At present two vans are operated for this service from the Munster Road centre and
the number of meals it is possible to deliver each day is limited by the capacity of the
two vans, i. e. 94. The demand for invalid meals has grown considerably since the