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WELFARE OF THE AGED
The following is an extract from the Annual Report of Miss D.
Beer, A. I. S. W., Organising Secretary of the Southwark Old People's
Welfare Committee : -
" We present the Tenth Annual Report of the Southwark Old People's
Welfare Committee for the year 1960/61 and are glad to show increased
activity and increased registration of old people whom we have helped.
Our gratitude is due to the Borough Council for its generous grants
and for its support and ready co-operation at all times. Especially
we would like to thank the Mayor for his interest and encouragement,
and all those who have materially helped us with donations and practical
assistance. We are particularly fortunate in having the whole
hearted support of our M.P. , Mr. R.J. Gunter, who in the turmoil of
parliamentary life, usually finds time to look in at our meetings,
and if he is prevented, delegates the function to Mrs. Gunter, who
equally shows a personal interest in the welfare of our old people.
This is the first complete year at St. Alban's Hall and, looking
back, we are able to assess the measure of our aims and the degree
to which they have been fulfilled. To relieve want among the elderly,
whether by our own means or by alerting the relevant statutory or
voluntary organisation ; to serve in their homes those who, being
disabled or too ill, cannot come to us ; to visit the lonely and encourage
them to join in our activities ; at all times to give advice
to all old people on problems which, with their limited knowledge
of the outside world, may seem insoluble ; in a word, to give a sense
of normality to the lives of those who are growing old, and make them
all feel that they are still members of an active community. When we
survey the activities of the past year, and hear the appreciation of
the old people as they express their faith in us, we feel that we have
gone far towards achieving our ends, although we know that there are
many more old people who must be reached. The Borough Council has
compiled a list of all old age pensioners in Southwark and we are in
the process of correlating our own lists with these, to ensure that
every possible case of need may be visited. But, for this gigantic
task, involving thousands of people, time and personnel are necessary.
All our usual activities go on apace. The restaurant attracts
its quota of daily clients, whether for morning coffee, midday dinner
or afternoon tea. The television room is popular in the afternoon
especially when there is a good sports or race meeting. The afternoon
classes in dressmaking and handcrafts are still well attended. The
choir does excellent work and has distinguished itself at the recent
Festival. Once a week, under the leadership of Mr. Harrison, of the
London City Mission, the 0ver-60 Fellowship holds a hymn-singing rally
which is much appreciated, judging from the lolling waves of sound
emanating from the music room.