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17
[1935
THE WORK OF THE FOUR VOLUNTARY WELFARE CENTRES.
The Centres themselves for the year 1935, through their Conjoint Committee,
supplied for each Centre a report of activities, from which the following information
has been compiled. This summary, of course, is on the nature of the work
and is not intended to be a statistical review.
The work of the four Voluntary Welfare Centres (North, South, East and
West), and their Branches, which was described in some detail by the Secretaries
in last year's Report, has been fully maintained this year. During 1935 the
number of mothers and babies attending the Centres exceeded 8,200.
It cannot be too clearly stated that the object of these Centres is preventive
and educative health work for mothers and babies. They aim at helping the
parents to rear healthy children by bringing the latest scientific knowledge within
their reach and understanding, and by giving them the benefit of highly skilled
supervision for the mother before and after the birth of her child, and for the child
until it reaches school age.
In order to do this the mothers are encouraged to come to the Centres for
themselves, to the Pre-Natal and Post-Natal Clinics, and to bring their children for
regular medical inspection to the children's clinics. The nurses visit the mothers
in their homes, to help them to carry out the Doctors' directions and to overcome
their individual difficulties. These activities have led the Centres to develop other
preventive measures and to work in close contact with various individuals and
bodies both inside and outside Islington, whose object is also to improve the health
of mothers and children. Details were given last year and are to some extent
indicated in the statistical tables.
Activities Provided or Procured by all the Four Centres are :—
1. Pre-natal and Post-natal Clinics.
2. Children's clinics.
3. Visiting in the homes.
4. Morning callers. (Mothers who attend for help and advice between
consultations.)
. 5. Health Talks. Various classes.
6. Convalescence for mothers and children.
7. Dental clinics.
8. " Light " clinics.
9. Massage.
10. Extra nourishment.
11. The Training of Infant Welfare Students.
The Additional Benefits Provided or Procured by the Centres are :
1. Convalescent Homes (a) Mothers and Infants
(b) Toddlers
2. Residential Observation Wards
3. Savings Clubs
4. Training of Infant Welfare Pupils
5. Home Helps
6. Mothers' and Fathers' Committees
(see Centre's own Annual Report)
7. Exercise Clinics
8. Immunisation (see p. 32)
North South East West
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