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the range of activities. It is hoped that at least one member of staff will qualify for the Montessori
Diploma so that children transferring from the Junior Centre at 16 years of age can continue with
the method to which they are accustomed.
The trainees also undertook a certain amount of industrial work for local firms, including
sewing gas mantles and stuffing soft toys. In addition , they did the laundry for two other training
centres, for which the top rate was 3/- a day.
During the year outings were arranged to Westcliff-on-Sea and to Bertram Mills Circus,
and a Christmas party was held to which parents were invited. Gifts of money were made to the
Hammersmith and Kensington Branches of the National Society for Mentally Handicapped Children,
and a record player was presented by the Camden Branch of the Society.
Training Centres Organised Holiday.
Officers of the Council's Health Service arranged the annual holiday for trainees from
the Inner London area, who went to St. Mary's Bay Holiday Camp, Dymchurch, from 7-21 May,
1965.
191 trainees, including 11 Hammersmith residents, were in the party led by Mr. Potter,
Supervisor, North Kensington Training Centre, assisted by Mrs. Lee, Supervisor, College Park
Training Centre. 16 members of staff also went from various training centres throughout London.
In addition, two groups of students taking the Diploma Course for Backward Children at Chiswick
Polytechnic spent a week each at the camp.
The weather was excellent, very hot the first week, and mainly sunny with showers the
second week. Several outings were arranged, including miniature train trips to New Romney,
Dungeness Lighthouse, and Hythe; and coach outings to Lympne Airport and Rye Harbour. All
had a thoroughly enjoyable time and returned home without any serious mishap.
Social Club.
A Social Club for former psychiatric patients was held weekly at Bishop Creighton House,
at which the average attendance was 25. A Mental Health Social Worker supervised the proceedings
and usually arranged a set activity each week in addition to the normal pastimes such as
cards, table tennis, and draughts. Patients were encouraged to suggest and arrange their own
activities, and visits were made to similar clubs in other Boroughs.
Expansion of the Mental Health Services.
The steady increase in the number of referrals during 1965 shows no sign of diminishing,
particularly for those requiring community care. The growth in this direction is most encouraging.
It means that an increasing, number of Hammersmith residents are benefitting from the Council's
Mental Health Service facilities.
Training Centres.
It is anticipated that, in due course, some 80 older boys and girls will need accommodation
at Adult Training Centres. College Park Training Centre for Older Girls is housed in converted
premises which are inadequate; but there is no provision at all for older boys within the Borough.
Immediate plans therefore envisage an 80 - place, purpose-built, mixed Adult Training Centre to
replace College Park Training Centre and to accomodate Hammersmith residents now attending
Centres outside the Borough. Negotiations are in progress for a site at Latimer Road South and,
if they succeed, it is hoped that the Centre will be completed in the near future. If this site or an
alternative is not available the scheme will have to be deferred and included in the long-term
development plans for the Wood Lane area.
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