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1937] 82
Whilst the routine work of the Welfare Centres has continued as usual, it is
gratifying for them to be able to record the increasing use made of such additional
outside facilities as the Centres offer in the form of dinners for Mothers, holidays
for Centre families and so forth. A particularly interesting innovation has been
the experimental establishment at the East Islington Welfare Centre of a Child
Guidance Clinic conducted by Dr. Mildred Creak, who undertook research work into
the frequency of behaviour problems in infants and toddlers. By the time behaviour
difficulties become apparent at school, habits may be well established, and seeing
the children in the early stages, or in other words before they are really " difficult "
and during the course of Welfare Centre attendances, is a development which will be
watched with a good deal of interest. The garden of this Centre is utilized for
special attention to delicate children during the summer.
At West Islington Welfare Centre special effort has been made to maintain the
attendances of toddlers by special birthday examinations.
The Ante-Natal Clinics at the North Islington Welfare Centre continue to work
in close co-operation with St. Mary, Islington, Hospital, and a large number of
expectant mothers are dealt with.
The Convalescent Home in connection with the South Islington Welfare Centre
continues to supply much needed convalescence for mothers and babies, and a
morning Nursery (" Garden School") at this Centre also appears to satisfy a demand,
judging by the use which is made of it.
I am indebted to the Welfare Centres for the following summaries and
observations on the work done during the past year :—
NORTH ISLINGTON WELFARE CENTRE,
6 and 7, Manor Gardens, N.7.
The Committee of the North Islington Infant Welfare Centre is pleased to
report a steady increase in the volume of work accomplished during the year.
A visit paid to the Centre by Her Worship the Mayor of Islington was deeply
appreciated, as showing her sympathy and interest in the work.
The assistance given by the Medical Officer of Health and the staff of the
Public Health Department has been very helpful and has always been given most
readily.
An outstanding feature of the work of the Centre during the past year has
been the number of dinners that have been given to necessitous mothers and children
which amounted to 3,243—an increase of 1,306 over the previous year. The
beneficial effects of these dinners cannot easily be expressed in statistics, but are
clearly manifested in the increased vigour and well being of the recipient.
The number of new cases of children is the highest on record since the Centre
started in 1913, being 1,185.
The attendances at the Children's Clinics, the Light Department, the Dental
Clinics, "Morning Callers" and the visits of the Nurses to the homes have all
steadily increased in number from the previous year.
The physical culture class for Mothers continues to be as popular as last year.
A new development of the Centre's work has been established during the year,
which takes the form of a physical culture class for toddlers. The total number
of children attending was 34, who made 255 attendances.