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OLD PEOPLE'S WELFARE COMMITTEE
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 Twelfth Annual Report of the Southwark Old
People's Welfare Committee for the year 1962/63 and in so doing
we are pleased to announce once again that progress has been made
in every section of the work. More meals have been served in the
Restaurant and more meals have been delivered by our meals - on
-wheels service. More old people were taken on holiday. Numbers
have increased in the Workshops and many more old people have come
to St. Alban's Hall seeking help and finding friendship.
We have received generous help from the Borough Council both
financially and practically and we would like to thank the Mayor,
Councillor P.W. Fuller, J.P. for his unfailing interest in our
progress. Once again we have pleasure in thanking our M.P. and his
wife, Mr. and Mrs. Gunter, for their very active support throughout
the year.
The subject of old age has been given much publicity during
the last few months and greater measures of help have been promised
to this section of the community. The need for consideration
and planning for the aged is obvious, the age of the population
is increasing and the population structure is becoming unbalanced.
Therefore, to give consideration to the study of the needs and
problems facing this age group is of the utmost importance.
The Old People's Welfare is sure that the only way to keep
this age group from becoming too much of a social and financial
burden to the country is to bring to the old people new interests
and activities; to prove to those who have just retired that life
is not over, but that with the closing of their working days comes
the opportunity of starting something new. The aim of the Committee
is to keep old age at bay by offering new interests to those
who find themselves without the ability to help themselves.
"There is nothing so insupportable to man as to be in
entire repose, without passion, occupation, amusement
or application. Then it is that he feels his
own nothingness, isolation, insignificance, dependent
nature, powerlessness, emptiness. Immediately
there issue from his soul ennui, sadness, chagrin,
vexation, despair".
Much of the constructive and preventive work of the Committee
is not seen when you enter St. Alban's Hall but in the background
it is going on all the time. During this year many old people were
referred to us and each one of these presented a problem of some
sort. Many were of a temporary nature and after a little help and