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men's industrial training centre make their own way. A purpose built coach provided with a
lift at the rear for handling persons in wheelchairs, was purchased and came into use during
the year, its main use being for transporting children to and from the special care unit.
Holidays
Many trainees from the training centres take part in a holiday at the holiday camp at
Dymchurch, Kent, joining groups of trainees from other London Boroughs. Recuperative holidays
are arranged for mentally ill persons under community care.
Parents Association
Effective liaison with the Tower Kamlets Society (formerly the Peter Pan Society)
continued throughout the year. This society comprising mentally handicapped children and
young persons receiving community care and their parents, relatives and friends is a very
active organisation in the borough and arranges many activities, social and cultural, for its
charges.
Following meetings between the Chairman of the Health Committee, officers of the Society
and of the Council to discuss common problems and suggestions to improve the services and
facilities provided by the Council and by the Society, the Council agreed to make available
the use of its day centre premises to the Society one evening a week, and on a Saturday evening
each month for social and sports activities. The junior training centre premises are also
made available one evening each week for experimental reading and writing classes for
mentally sub-normal children, at which the supervisor of the training centre gives her
services.
Quarterly meetings of the Society are attended by an officer of the department to further
the liaison between the Society and the Council.
Day Centres
There is a Council day centre for the mentally ill and two others administered by a
voluntary organisation in the borough. Their aim and purpose is to provide a meeting place
where patients who live at home can obtain occupational and educational therapy. Patients
are able to discuss with mental health social workers their personal problems and difficulties.
An incidental object of the day centres is to provide some relief to relatives from the care
of mentally ill persons. The patients attend for the whole day on five days a week and are
provided with a midday meal and light refreshments.
Junior Training Centre
Progress continues on the new junior training centre project, albeit slowly. By the end
of the year, residents of the houses within the site allocated were decanted, the site cleared
of buildings, approval to the plans was given by the Minister of Health and the scheme is now
out to tender.
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