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In 1957 the Association agreed to a proposal by the City Council to
recruit on their staff a welfare worker with the appropriate qualifications,
whose duties would include case-work with individual old people and the
co-ordination of services provided by the various statutory authorities
for the welfare of old people; duties which were formerly carried out by a
Public Health Inspector on the City Council's staff. The welfare worker
commenced duty in February, 1958, and the Council reimburses the
Association annually the salary and expenses of the appointment, with
the consent of the Minister of Housing and Local Government, under
Section 136 of the Local Government Act, 1948. During the year under
review this side of the Association's work increased steadily.
In 1959, the Association published a handbook setting out details of
the services available in the City for old people, and other information
likely to be of interest to pensioners. This handbook has proved to be of
great assistance to all concerned; a second edition was published during
1961.
Day Club for Handicapped Old People
In December, 1960 the Council agreed that the basement of Sherborne
House, Abbots Manor, should be adapted for use as a Day Club and
Luncheon Club for old people at an estimated cost of £4,000, and that a
grant of £600 should be made to the Westminster Old People's Welfare
Association for the provision of essential furniture and equipment for
the Club, on condition that this should be returned to the Council if it
ceased to be used for this purpose.
The Club started on July 6th, 1961, and the official opening was
performed on November 16th, 1961 by The Worshipful The Mayor of
Westminster. It is used as a Day Club for about 25 handicapped old
people on two days per week (including the service of lunches which are
cooked on the premises) and as a Luncheon Club for 40 persons on two
days per week. This latter arrangement necessitated the transfer to
the Westminster Old People's Welfare Association of responsibility for
the Luncheon Club formerly run at Tintern House by the British Red
Cross Society.
The accommodation includes a club room, a warden's office, kitchen,
bathroom, hairdressing and chiropody cubicles, together with lavatory
accommodation.
The disabled old people are transported to and from the Club in
special vehicles provided by the City Council and the London County
Council Welfare Department.
The success of this club is due in no small measure to the Warden and
her staff. It caters for the recreational needs of a section of Westminster's
elderly population for whom no provision had previously been made, and