View report page

155
as is practicable, the intermingling of persons with differing
handicaps. These establishments provide members with facilities
not only for training and adjustment but also for pastime activities,
handicrafts, etc., and with opportunities for social contact with
others of similar disability and with similar interests. In this way,
the club make an invaluable contribution towards the social
rehabilitation of members. Tuition and help in diversionary
occupation is provided for those unable to enjoy these benefits.
Combined Day Centres
On 1st April of the current year, 2 Combined Day Centres were
brought into operation, one at Federation Hall, Abbey Wood, and
the other at Riverdale, 158a Plumstead High Street, catering for
60 and 45 mentally ill and physically handicapped persons
respectively.
Federation Centre
Work at Federation has been mainly contract woodwork, such
as interwoven fencing, scissor-racks, display frames, repairs to
department's office furniture, making of aids for the physicallyhandicapped,
some simple carding and display of stationery
supplies. It is planned to introduce machines for work next year
when staff have been trained to instruct and supervise the people
who will use them.
Persons attending at Federation are expected to attend daily
five days per week and some of the more able younger physically
handicapped were successfully transferred from the St. Saviour's
Centre. Eight persons were placed in open industry during the year.
An Old People's room at the rear of the premises opened with
a full-time attendant on duty and about eight old people have
attended each day. This number could be increased if transport
were made available, but at present this is not possible.
Riverdale Centre
This Centre is restricted in the work it can undertake due to
the lack of three-phase electrical power, thus precluding the installation
of heavy machinery. As a result, work here has been
restricted to carding and display of stationery supplies, making of
electric lamp shades, making up of electric light sockets and
wiring, etc., and some soldering. One of the larger jobs has been
the repair and painting of roadwork signs for the Borough
Engineer's Department.
Persons attending this Centre do so mainly on a one, two or
three day basis; a few, however, attend five days per week. The
capability of these persons is generally not as good as the persons