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167
Park Vista Adult Training Centre
Held on lease, this centre comprises the ground and first floors
of the premises of a private undertaking and provides facilities
for 60 adults of both sexes. Unfortunately, restrictions imposed
by the terms of the lease tend to limit the exploitation of this
establishment to its full potential and the service is correspondingly
circumscribed.
Outwork and training are carried out in the main hall on the
upper floor which is also utilized on Thursday evenings by the
Park Vista Club. Outwork is simple and consists mainly of carding
stationery display cards while other occupational work carried
out includes needlework, knitting, rugmaking, etc. Trainees are
conveyed to the centre by coach.
Despite initial misgivings, the conversion of this centre from a
female establishment to one accommodating both sexes has been
successfully accomplished but some difficulty was experienced in
retaining a male staff member. This aspect will be more fully
examined when the new Adult Industrial Centre at Tunnel Avenue
is opened in 1969.
Blackwall Industrial Training Centre
This building, which has a total capacity for 35 trainees, is
bright, airy, has good central heating and a well equipped canteen
and accommodates 25 trainees from this Borough and a further 10
from Lewisham.
It is the aim of the Centre where possible to bring the standard
of ability of trainees to such a level that they can compete in the
open market. When this object proves unattainable, the policy is
to teach them to be emotionally stable and socially acceptable in
order that they may live harmoniously within the community.
In 1968, the type of work carried out improved but, due to his
additional role as Work Production Officer which involved obtaining
work for all Training and Combined Occupation Centres, the
Supervisor was unable to give this centre adequate attention. This
situation will be reviewed when the new Tunnel Avenue Centre
is opened next year.
During the current year, six trainees were placed in employment
and of the two sent to the Industrial Rehabilitation Unit at
Wadden one failed and returned to the Centre whilst the other
became a qualified capstan operator and is now employed in
industry in that capacity.