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138
Sheltered Employment
Greenwich Workshops for the Blind which are situated at
Greenwich High Road and Feathers Place (formerly Eastney
Street), continued to be administered by this department. Long
absences due to illness, together with the unprofitability of the
traditional trades practised at the workshops combined to produce
a further increase in costs per approved blind worker.
During 1966, in an effort to reverse this trend, a light engineering
sub-contract was obtained which involved the drilling and deburring
of plastic components for a large, local electrical firm. With
a little practice, most men taking part in the experiment became
capable of worthwhile rates of production, sufficient even of
producing a little profit. Unfortunately, during the current year,
the firm concerned was "taken over" and eventually ceased
manufacturing in the area, the natural sequence of which was the
collapse of this particular scheme. Nevertheless, in order that
more diverse occupations may be offered, further enquiries are
being made not only regarding engineering work but also in
respect of other alternative trades.
Blind Home-workers
There is a scheme for the employment of the blind in their own
homes for which the department is responsible and these homeworkers
pursue a variety of trades, e.g. basket making, machine
knitting and even a retail grocery shop. Seven Greenwich blind
homeworkers continued to participate in the scheme which is
supervised, on behalf of the Council, by the Royal National
Institute for the Blind.
Concessions
A registered blind person may be eligible for the following
concessions and action is taken by the department to ensure that
they are received:
(a) An increase in Social Security benefits.
(b) An exemption pass on London Transport buses which
allows the blind person and an escort to travel at the cost
of one fare.
(c) A certificate for the exemption of payment of a fee for a
wireless receiving licence.
(d) Provision of a free white stick by the Metropolitan Society
for the Blind.
(e) Free loan of a wireless set by the Society for the Blind.
(0 Free loan of a spark guard.