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in undertaking voluntary work in the various health and welfare
services. In the Kidbrooke area, four churches of different
denominations were co-operating to establish a joint scheme for
emergency and other help for the elderly in that area. Moreover,
the Council's voluntary welfare liaison officer approached several
youth organisations and local headmasters with encouraging results
and several groups gave practical assistance to old people during
the year.
Twenty-three persons received assistance from eight voluntary
gardeners, three school groups, thirteen church groups and one
adult group and practical work was carried out at the homes of
old persons by three church and three other organisations. In
addition, funds were raised by four different voluntary organisations
to assist four other old persons, in respect of the cost of materials.
Further expansion of this kind of voluntary work was planned for
1966.
Assistance was also provided by thirty-nine active "solo"
volunteers for ninety-eight old persons, with escorting, hairdressing,
domestic repairs, radio and T.V. repairs, sick visiting, household
chores, shopping, sewing and mending, transportation and the
provision of firewood and fuel.
Following requests from schools in the Borough, that their
Harvest Festival gifts should go to local old people, the department
supplied appropriate names and addresses and assisted with
distribution and transport, where required.
Local Rotary Clubs again arranged outings and entertainment
for many old people recommended by the Department.
MAYOR'S 'FESTIVAL OF CHRISTMAS' APPEAL
Once again a feature of the Christmas period was the most
successful 'Festival of Christmas' Appeal organised under the
active leadership of Councillor W. A. Brooks, J.P., Mayor of
Greenwich. The Council decided that there should be a 'Festival
of Christmas' covering the whole of the new London Borough
and a sum of money was made available to provide parcels and
to allow for decorations, entertainments and festivities to be
organised at Christmas time. A 'Festival of Christmas' SubCommittee
was set up on which the various local organisations,
churches and schools were represented.
Distribution on Christmas Eve of over 4,500 parcels, the
contents of which were determined on department advice, was
effected by a rota of volunteers organised in consultation with the
Health and Welfare department. Generally speaking, all 'needy'