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Summer School Vacation
The programmes arranged for children in past years during the August school
holidays was repeated in 1969 and again proved extremely popular and successful.
Previously, these have taken the form of a selection of films on health or safety
interspersed with entertainment items shown at four of the health centres with a change
of programme on each of the four weeks. This year, a special sub committee was formed
to try to extend the scope of the educational content whilst avoiding direct formalised
teaching.
Quiz contests and home exercises on poster drawing, scrap books, etc. were
organised and small prizes awarded. About 1,100 children attended these sessions.
Mothers' Clubs
Mothers' clubs are now operating at Health Centres in the borough, and a great deal
of excellent work is contributed by Health Visitors to encourage young mothers to attend
these meetings with their children. Programmes of talks, films and demonstrations are
arranged, often with special items for the benefit of the children. Whilst fundamentally
educational, the aim is to provide programmes of general interest in a social atmosphere
which will encourage mothers to remain in close contact with the centre and the Health
Visitor.
In-service Training
A two-day course was arranged in co-operation with the Health Education Council
at the end of October, covering a wide range of problems under the title of "Health and
Marriage". Members of the staffs of the Health, Welfare and Children's Departments
attended the course and presented several interesting reports from the useful group
discussions.
A series of eight weekly training sessions for Home Helps was also arranged by the
Chief Home Help Organiser between March and May. These courses included lectures by
Health Visitors, District Nurses and Public Health Inspectors, designed to give a practical
knowledge of fundamental food hygiene, diet and nutrition, accident prevention etc.
Displays
An open air display illustrating the functions of the Health Department was
mounted at Belair, the Council's recreation ground at Dulwich, in connection with a
summer festival in June. A large quantity of leaflets on health and safety was issued on
this occasion and numerous interested enquiries were made by visitors, many of them
young people.
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