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coffee and stay on, tempted by the opportunity of a chat with friends
to linger for tea and television. To those who live quite alone or
perhaps in a not very congenial family set-up, this is like home,
where they can please themselves, with all the amenities of companionship.
On the notice board are the announcements of concerts, whist
drives, and in the summer, outings, and during the day many make
their way to the office to pay their instalments on holidays or to
seek advice on something which bothers them.
The Meals-on-Wheels service has been expanded to the extent that
more transport and containers have had to be supplied. There is a
five-day service to all but the northern area of the borough ; this
is worked by the W.V. S. who unfortunately lack the personnel to deliver
more than four days a week. This is an exacting and tiring service
and we are fortunate in our staff for the devotion they show. Not
only do they deliver dinners, sometimes climbing five floors in the
old buildings, but they take a personal interest in the welfare of
the old people, reporting back to the office any special needs they
have noticed on which the Secretary should take action, i.e., cases
of sickness which must be reported to the doctor, or cases of unhappiness
where a visit could help.
The luncheon club at the Women's University Settlement continues
to be well patronised and the one inaugurated at Quinn Square just
over a year ago proves that its existence is justified.
The total number of meals cooked and served in the restaurant
or sent out to the luncheon clubs and the housebound was 88,606 for
the year, an increase of about 17,000 over last year.
We should like once more to express our appreciation of the help
given by Mr. Bloomfield and his drivers and of their ready co-operation
often in circumstances of difficulty.
Transport
As always, we have had many requests for transport and have
sometimes found it difficult to fulfil them through lack of voluntary
drivers. So much happiness depends on a wife, herself disabled, being
able to visit from time to time her husband in a hospital outside
London. An invalid for whom we have arranged a convalescent holiday
by the sea - it may be her very first holiday (and that has happened)
has two-fold enjoyment if she can go from door to door and is not
buffeted about in public transport, and she is happier in feeling
that we care so much for her comfort.
During this past year the London County Council Welfare Department
has allowed us the use of a coach on Fridays to bring in to the
centre as many of our housebound old people as we can. We are grateful
for this gesture, which has brought happiness to many - thev come