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Three (4) applications were completed for blind or partially sighted registration and results
of examinations were awaited at the end of the year. The purpose of registration is to allow a
person with sight difficulties to have the welfare services available under the National Assistance
Act, 1948 (Section 29), if he so requires.

The primary work of assessing and sorting cases to determine need and which, if any, specialist
services should be brought into use is the responsibility of the Health and Welfare Officer.
Holidays for the Physically Handicapped
The finding of places in holiday homes for such persons is undertaken by the Health and
Welfare Officer. In practice such cases as have arisen have been found to be more suitably
dealt with as "recuperative holidays" on medical recommendation but it is realised that this
will not always be so and use will be made of the provisions of the Scheme for services for the
Physically Handicapped should the need arise.
Sheltered Employnent for the "Handicapped and Elderly"
There is very little demand for this at present but further follow-up visits to the elderly and
handicapped may reveal a need in which case use will be made of the provisions of the various
Handicapped Persons Schemes and arrangements made with other authorities or voluntary bodies.
Day'Centres and Clubs
The City of London Old Peoples Welfare Association provide club facilities for elderly
residents of the Corporation's Middlesex Street Estate but it is difficult for other elderly City
residents to reach. The facilities are intended primarily for use of Corporation tenants and are
provided under the Housing Acts.
Arrangements have been made for elderly and handicapped persons to be taken to the Social
Club at St. Matthew's Hospital.
Library Service for Homebound Persons
In conjunction with the Principal Lending Librarian of the G"uildhall Library arrangements
have been made for such a service and the Principal Lending Librarian reports as follows:—
"The service is intended to supply books to readers who through old age or incapacity are
unable to visit their local library. It was inaugurated on 13th July, 1966 and operates from
Bishopsgate Library. A senior member of the library staff takes a selection of books at three
weekly intervals by means of the Health and Welfare van to a number of residents most of whom
live in the Bishopsgate area. When the service commenced, 9 readers were visited, but this has
now grown to 12. The service is a small one and is unlikely to grow to any great extent, but it
is greatly appreciated by the recipients. In all, since 13th July, 299 books have been issued.
A number of the readers, being elderly, find it difficult to read books printed in average
sized print and they are specially provided with a series of large-print books. The City Lending
Library Service acquires a copy of every large-print book published in the Ulverscroft series and
while these provide reading of a popular, nature, more serious volumes can be supplied through
the National Library for the Blind".
SECTION 31 - MEALS-ON-WHEELS SERVICE
This service operates from the Guildhall Office with individual diet meals served by arrangement
with the Staff Association Luncheon Room Committee to whom thanks are due.
At the end of the year 1,615 (312 from July to December 1965) had been served.
Bank Holidays and weekends remain a problem in that no meals can be served but in the
former case this is to a certain extent overcome by the provision of cans of soup and foodstuffs
which the individual can heat and serve.
Where appropriate arrangements have been made for people to receive meals from the Kosher
Meals-on-Wheels Service find 274 meals were served during the year.
CORPORATION STAFF
Medical Emergencies
The arrangement which has been made with a firm of medical practitioners in the City to be
on call for emergencies at Guildhall was implemented once during the year.
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