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College Park Training Centre has places for 35 older girls and women between 16 and 45 years
of age, and the average daily attendance was 31.
The syllabus included social training and domestic subjects, e.g. simple cookery, embroidery
and other household duties, to enable the girls to become useful and accepted members of
their families. One member of staff enrolled in the Autumn for the Montessori Diploma Course, so
that girls transferring from the Junior Centre at 16 years of age can continue with the method to
which they are accustomed.
The trainees continued to do a certain amount of industrial work for local firms, including
sewing gas mantles and stuffing soft toys; and in addition do the laundry.
An outing was arranged in the summer to Chessington Zoo by coach, and a Christmas
party was held to which parents and friends were invited. Gifts of money were made by the
Hammersmith and Kensington Branches of the National Society for Mentally Handicapped Children,
and by a local publican.
Visits were made to the Centre by student nurses from Fulham, Hammersmith and Royal
Masonic hospitals.
Training Centres Organised Holiday
Officers of the Council's Personal Health Service arranged the annual holiday for trainees
from the Inner London area at St. Mary's Bay Holiday Camp, Dymchurch, from 6—20 May 1966.
257 trainees, including 21 Hammersmith residents, were in the party led by Mr. Potter,
Supervisor of North Xensington Training Centre, assisted by Mrs. Lee, Supervisor of College
Park Training Centre. 20 members of staff also went from various training centres throughout
London. In addition, two groups of students taking the Diploma Course for Teachers of Backward
Children at Chiswick Polytechnic spent a week each at the camp.
After a cool and wet start, the weather improved and was warm and sunny for the remainder
of the holiday. Several outings were arranged for the trainees, including miniature railway
trips to Hythe, New Romney, Dungeness, and coach trips to Rye Harbour and Dover Castle. A
much appreciated feature of the holiday was the playing of the North Kensington Training Centre
Band which enabled several dances to be held.
Day Centre
The Council opened a 25-place Day Centre for the Rehabilitation of the Mentally 111 on
19 September 1966, in a converted Community Centre on one of the Council's housing estates.
The Centre, which opens daily from Monday to Friday between the hours of 9.30 a.m. to 4.30 p.m.,
is staffed by a Supervisor and an Assistant Supervisor. A Mental Health Social Worker attends the
Centre l!4 days a week for consultation with patients and staff.
An average day commences with a discussion group where patients talk about problems
arising from family circumstances and difficulties at home, their fears, and anything that may
contribute to their illness. At first it was difficult to get a response from some of the more withdrawn
patients, but gradually they participated and now look forward to the daily group. A group
is again formed at lunchtime when staff and patients lunch as a family, the food being sent in
bulk containers from the Council's Central kitchen. The afternoon is spent on handicrafts, playreading,
painting and games.
At 31 December 1966, there were 16 patients on the register and the average daily
attendance was 10.
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