View report page

9
Illegitimate Children.
The Southwark Diocesan Association for Moral Welfare undertakes
on the Council's behalf the Lambeth part of the joint London
Scheme. The Council's grant to the Association was £233 ; Assistance
was given to 125 unmarried mothers and their children, and
to 40 unmarried expectant mothers. As the result of the efforts of
the Welfare visitors, no less than 71 girls were able to return home
with their babies which is the best solution of the difficulty. Of the
rest, 7 babies were cared for by foster mothers, 15 went to residential
nurseries, places were found for 6 in day nurseries while the
mother went out to work and provided a home out of nursery hours,
15 were adopted, 6 mothers found homes with friends for themselves
and their babies. The remaining 5 babies did not survive the year.
One child only was provided with a foster mother under the
guaranteed payment scheme during the year and then only for a
few months as the mother was fortunately able later to make a
home for her baby.
Home Helps.
229 (160) applications and home helps provided—cost to Council,
£366 9s. Od. (£"222 12s. 0d.), the rest of the gross cost £590 7s. 0d.
being paid by the applicants.
Again it is possible to record that there has been no failure in
finding a home help, but the rate of remuneration asked is much
higher, up to £4 for the fortnight, compared with £1 to £1 10s. 3d.
for the fortnight before the war. The position is if anything
slightly easier than in the previous year. The scheme does simplify
matters considerably where a relative or friend gives up employment
in order to act as home help.
Domestic Helps.
After a poor start with many applications for assistance but no
offers of help, the first domestic help started in July assisting one
applicant. This number increased by one more help each month
until there were six domestic helps giving assistance to six distressed
families at the end of the year.
An increase in the rate of pay Is. 6d. an hour was considered in
September as a greater inducement, but rather than break away
from the Whitley scale the Council agreed to pay bus and tram
fares instead. This rate is now increased to 1s. 9¾d. an hour.
Two of the three original domestic helps are still in the Council's
employment and the number is now 15 (July). Many more applicants
could be assisted if more women would work for the Council.