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102
The Care Committee has felt more than ever, during the past year,
the advantage of having its own fund—the Poplar Tuberculosis Fundfor
the provision of clothing and other necessities which cannot be obtained
from other sources. The fund (which is a charity approved by the L.C.C.)
is administered by a separate Committee which has met 7 seven times
during 1931. 62 grants have been made to assist needy patients. 30
of these were in the form of clothing, and other assistance given includes
the provision of dentures, payment of fares to visit relatives in sanatorium,
laundry expenses for women patients who are unable to do this work
themselves, cost of removal to better accommodation, special nourishment
and general help. The main income of the Poplar Tuberculosis Fund
during the year has again come from the Associated British Cinemas,
who give a weekly grant in respect of Sunday entertainments at the
Poplar Hippodrome; we have also been fortunate in obtaining, for the
first time, a grant from the Alexandra Rose Day Fund. These grants have
been augmented by various efforts on the part of the Tuberculosis Care
Committee and their friends. The annual Household and Jumble Sale
was held in November and two dances and two concerts were also organised
in aid of the fund during the year. The Committee of the Poplar Tuberculosis
Fund publishes its own Annual Report and Balance Sheet at the
end of the financial year.
The Handicraft Class for ex-sanatorium patients continues to be held
at the Dispensary once a week, and is much appreciated by the members.
The subjects taught now include leather-work, basket-making, cane-work,
stool-seating, glove-making and pewter-work. The Poplar Handicraft
Class had a stall at the Exhibition of Handicrafts organised by the
Standing Conference of Metropolitan Tuberculosis Care Committees at
the Carpenters' Hall last April, and goods were also sent to the Exservicemen's
Exhibition at the Imperial Institute in November. In
addition, a Christmas Exhibition and Sale was held at the Dispensary in
December, which was opened by his Worship, the Mayor of Poplar. A
grant of £10 for running expenses was given to the Handicraft Class by
the National Association for the prevention of Tuberculosis during the
year, and this sum, together with amounts received from sales, has enabled
the Class to run without any assistance from the Poplar Tuberculosis
Fund.
The Poplar Tuberculosis Care Committee is represented on the
Standing Conference of Metropolitan Borough Tuberculosis Care Committees
and three meetings of that body have been attended at the County
Hall. Members of the Committee have also visited Papworth Colony
with a party organised by the Conference.