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At the end of the year progress was being made with the adaptation of the former
Balham day nursery premises to provide a permanent centre, which it was expected
would be ready for occupation in the summer term, 1957, to replace the Battersea
elder boys' centre.
Ministry of Health approval was received for a scheme to erect a new occupation
centre on a site at Perry Rise, Lewisham, to be built during the financial year, 1957-58,
and plans were in preparation for a second new centre to be built on a site in North
Kensington. These centres will be the first purpose built centres provided by the Council.
They will replace existing unsatisfactory centres and provide additional places.
Open days
and sales of
work
Various functions were held during the year to show to parents and friends the work
and activities carried out at the centres. Articles made and sold at the centres realised
approximately £73 at junior centres, £131 at elder girls' centres and £764 (including
£140 for shoe repairing) at elder boys' centres (excluding the industrial training centre).
Some small apparatus and equipment for other centres was also made at the boys'
centres.
Stepney
industrial
training
centre
A review of the working of the industrial training centre carried out in June, 1956,
revealed that the value of goods produced up to May had covered the cost of materials
used and the pocket money (1s. a day) paid to the boys, leaving a small surplus. The
position will be further reviewed from time to time to ascertain whether an increase in
pocket money can be justified by the output. The total value of orders completed for
the Council's Supplies Department during 1956 was approximately £564 and a few
items were also made for other occupation centres. The experiment at Stepney is proving
well worthwhile and it is hoped to start a second industrial training centre in south
London when suitable premises can be obtained.
Admissions
to special
schools and to
employment
During the year, ten children were sent or returned to special schools and twelve
boys from the elder boys' centres and the industrial training centre left to take up
employment.
Home
teaching
A home teacher was appointed for an experimental period of one year, to commence
duty in January, 1957, for the instruction of approximately thirty physically and
mentally handicapped children and adults who cannot attend the occupation centres.
Speech
therapy
Arrangements were also made for speech therapy sessions to start at two occupation
centres early in 1957 for an experimental period of one year.
Chest X-ray
examinations
Chest X-ray examinations were arranged for all staff and for defectives over fifteen
years of age attending the centres. No case of tuberculosis was discovered.
Holidays,
outings and
parties
200 children and adults (of whom 81 necessitous persons received free or assisted
holidays) participated in the annual holiday at a seaside camp. Some centres organised
day outings to the sea or country. Facilities were provided for periodic visits during the
summer months to local parks for recreation and sports. Elder boys' centres organised
inter-centre cricket and football matches. Christmas parties were held at all centres.
Gifts, including sums of money to provide extra amenities, were given to most
centres, by parents' groups and other persons.
Gifts
Parties of students undergoing organised courses of training, and interested persons
from other authorities and countries, visited the centres during the year. The usual
annual reports on the centres by Inspectors of the Board of Control were received and
centres were also visited by members of the Mental Health Sub-Committee. Members
of Divisional Health Committees attended some centre functions.
Visits to
centres
Thirteen staff who are participating in the current two-year part-time course of
training organised by the National Association for Mental Health, which commenced
in September, 1955, completed periods of practical training in centres of other local
authorities and students from other authorities taking the same course and the
Association's full-time day course, received periods of practical training in London
centres.
Staff courses
of training
O*
97