View report page

68
A lunch club at St. Giles Christian Mission, Bride Street. N.7., also produced
2,268 meals with the help of their own voluntary workers and Council grant-aid. Another
lunch club, situated in the Borough of Pinsbury, at Claremont Central Mission, White Lion
Street, also caters for Islington residents and receives a £50 grant from this Council.
The purpose of the "Meals-on-Wheels" service is, of course, to supply meals to those
elderly persons who are either housebound or have become so limited in their physical
capacity that they cannot satisfactorily cope with all the necessary arrangements for the
purchasing, preparation and service of food. This type of disability must necessarily
increase with failing health, and the lack of sufficient supply of satisfactory food must
in turn hasten health deterioration, so setting up a vicious circle. To break this circle
or at least to delay its onset - is one of the objectives of the "Meals-on-Wheels" service.
The provision of between 70 and 80 meals each day of the service is, of course, very
useful and, since much of the work involved in the transport of meals is of a voluntary
nature, the "Meals-on-Wheels" service does represent a very considerable voluntary effort.
Nevertheless, the present service is limited because it is not possible, in general, to
provide each elderly person recommended for a meal a delivery on more than two days a week.
Prom the nature of the recommendations, there is no doubt the great majority, if not all,
would benefit by the service being at least doubled to 4 meals, or possibly more, per week.
This has not hitherto been possible, but it is certainly to be hoped that an increase of
this order can be envisaged in the not too distant future.
Holidays for Elderly Persons
Assisted holidays were again much in demand, and 592 elderly people were able to enjoy
a holiday through the Borough Council's grant-aided scheme, which is administered hy the
Old People's Welfare Council. A sum of £2, 750 was earmarked to meet costs which pensioners
could not be expected to pay. Most holidaymakers, however, were able to pay some of their
expenses and Miss Church, Honorary Secretary of,the Welfare Council, arranged to collect
small weekly sums to suit the convenience of the savers.
Parcels for Elderly Persons
The Borough Council authorised the expenditure of £50 on Christmas gift parcels, and
it was possible to make a distribution to about a hundred elderly folk. The health officers
recommended suitable recipients and delivery was arranged by the Islington Old People's
Welfare Council.
Islington Work Centre for the Elderly
This is another social venture which has now become firmly established in Islington.
Numbers attending the sessions have increased and the workroom is usually full to capacity,
providing part-time employment for about 80 persons, each working five half-day sessions
per week. The Centre is sited at the Elizabeth Whitelaw Reid Club, Cloudesle^ Street, N. 1.,
and Miss K.D. Lane, Centre Organiser, is responsible for the day-to-day business, while the
Centre is run under the direction of a Sub-Committee of the Old People's Welfare Council.
Generally speaking,, sufficient out-work was provided by application to local firms, and the
old people were able to reach a high standard of efficiency in carrying out the various tasks.
As well as giving them an added interest, a small monetary reward and an opportunity of
meeting other elderly folk, the Work Centre is fulfilling a valuable purpose in helping to
maintain in these retired people a sense of usefulness in the community.
Chiropody
The financial responsibility for this service, as reported last year, has now passed
to the London County Council, but the local administration and appointments system are dealt
with by the Islington Old People's Welfare Council, who run nine weekly sessions and make
appointments for approximately 72 persons each week. In addition, a small number of infirm
persons are attended in their own homes.