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96
Roehampton Hostel
This hostel (see photograph in centre pages—Plate D) was
opened in August and comprises the two upper storeys over Roehampton
Training Centre. It has a completely separate entrance
so that the residents do not have the impression of belonging to the
same establishment as the work centre downstairs.
The opening of this hostel has caused a great deal of interest,
and already there has been an enormous number of visitors. For
the time being, entry is limited to those who have some potential
for progression to life in the outside community, either independently
or in some other form of supportive setting. This means
that a number of the residents are already out at work, although
15 places are reserved in the training centre below for residents at
the hostel, particularly those who have arrived more recently.
The 30 beds are divided equally between men and women, and
there are many contacts and outlets in the local community. Staff
make every effort to ensure that the trainees live as full and as
normal a life as possible.
Organised holidays for the mentally handicapped
Wandsworth again shared in the Inner London Borough Scheme
and sent a number of young men and boys on the organised holidays
to Dymchurch. Once again we had a very successful holiday
run by Miss Hyde, the manager of the Battersea Training Centre,
at Pirate Springs, a holiday home run by the National Society for
Mentally Handicapped Children. This year, as well as training
centre staff, two volunteers went to help in the task of providing
an excellent holiday for 25 women and girls.
Leisure activities for the mentally handicapped
In conjunction with the Wandsworth Society for Mentally Handicapped
Children and with the local Youth Service, the mental
health section has been able to promote a varied programme of
evening recreational activities in Youth Centres in Clapham.
Battersea and Southfields. In addition to the Gateway Club at
Balham on Mondays, run by the Parents' Society, a new club is
planned for early opening at the Roehampton Centre and a limited
amount of transport is available in relation to these projects. The
Gateway Club at Putney is still a thriving venture and the swimming
sessions held regularly at Putney Baths continue to gain in
popularity. At weekends there is a sports session organised at the
Battersea Culvert Youth Centre which is held on Saturday mornings.
It can thus be seen that a fair variety of activity is available
to the mentally handicapped in the Borough.