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110
TRANSPORT
The Council have four vehicles, (two coaches with a hydraulic
tail-lift and two utilabuses) for taking handicapped persons between
their homes and social centres, transporting elderly persons to residential
accommodation, homeless families and unmarried mothers to temporary
accommodation. In addition, they were used for delivering aids and
gadgets to the blind and handicapped, for taking residents of welfare
homes on regular outings and to the shops. During the old people's
organised holidays, they transported the blind and handicapped and
their baggage from their homes to the pick-up points and in some cases
took severely handicapped persons direct to the holiday homes. Two of
the vehicles were stationed at the holiday camp in Berkshire to enable
the elderly to be taken on outings, to the shops and church services.
Voluntary organisations are granted use of the transport for
approved purposes in the evenings and at weekends. They have availed
themselves of this service on over five hundred occasions.
The total mileage travelled in covering all these commitments
amounted to over 48,000 (40,000) miles. For operational purposes,
the Council's schedule of transport needs is at present grouped with
that of Westminster and Camden Councils in order to meet each borough's
commitments.
WELFARE OF THE ELDERLY
At 1st January, 1967, the number of elderly persons shown on the
register was 2,536. During the year 463 persons were removed from
the register having either moved from the borough, or died or been
re-registered under some other category, i.e. blind, handicapped, etc.;
518 new cases were added and the number of persons remaining on the
register at 31st December, 1967, totalled 2,591. Many received
assistance from statutory and voluntary sources to ensure their continued
welfare. In addition to those on the register, 1,840 other persons
were afforded advice and/or assistance by statutory and voluntary
sources.
A specially appointed officer co-operates with voluntary organisations
interested in the welfare of elderly people and in consequence
much additional benefit has been derived by the old persons in the
borough.
Close liaison was maintained with the Old People's Welfare Committee,
of which the Chief Welfare Officer is the Honorary Secretary.
Meals Service
The preparation and supply of meals for old people in Kensington
has been carried out by the Kensington and Chelsea Communal Services
Committee at St. George's Hall, Kensington Place, where approximately
1,270 meals a week are prepared, including those supplied to luncheon
clubs. The preparation of meals for delivery in Chelsea is undertaken
from the kitchen at 'King's Mead' old people's home where an average of
300 meals a week are prepared. Deliveries in both areas have been
effected by volunteer drivers and attendants of the Women's Royal
Voluntary Service. The meals are delivered in a fleet of eight vans,
seven of which are fitted with equipment for keeping the food hot.
During 1967, the Kensington and Chelsea Communal Services
Committee resolved to wind up and hand over to the Council all its
assets. In consequence, the Welfare Committee assumed full responsibility
for the service on 1st August, 1967, the Women's Royal Voluntary
Service still being responsible for delivering the meals.