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Mental welfare officers continued to give talks to schools, church groups
and various organisations, and also to pre-retirement groups.
Adult Training Centres
Upon the resignation of Mrs. R. Early, in August, 1967, for many years the
devoted supervisor of Castle School, the opportunity was taken to amalgamate
the Gale Street Annexe with the Adult Training Centre in Osborne Square, so that
all adult trainees would be under the supervision of Mr. Matthews. This foreshadowed
the transfer of all trainees to the new Adult Training Centre due for
completion in 1968.
Also during the year, following the closure by the Health Committee of the
dental workshop, the staff at Osborne Square was strengthened by the addition
of Mr. G. Dickerson, Senior Dental Technician, who was transferred there as an
Instructor.
Handicrafts such as leather work, woodwork, basketry and needlework, are
taught at the centres, and simple industrial processes performed for local
firms. These activities resulted in an income of nearly £500 at Gale Street
and £1,000 at Osborne Square, which is distributed amongst trainees.
Outings were arranged to Minnis Bay, regular visits on two mornings each
week were made to the sports centre in Halbutt Street, and two parties had a
week's holiday at St. Mary's Bay, Dymchurch, one in May and the other in
September. Grateful thanks are due to the staff and volunteers who give up
their time to make these holidays possible.
During the year, 9,226 attendances were made at Osborne Square and 8,933
at Gale Street Annexe.
Capital Building Programme
The position regarding the capital building programme for mental health
projects during 1967 was as follows:-
Adult Training Centre. Gascoigne Road - Work on this 120 place centre for
mentally sub-normal trainees was started at the end of the summer and it is
expected to be completed by the middle of 1968. Because this is the only
adult training centre projected for the Borough, and by reason of the acute
shortage of suitable sites, this building will be of bungalow construction
initially, but will be capable of taking a further storey at a later stage
if need be.
Hostel for the Mentally Sub-Normal - There not being a hostel within the
Borough, a review of known and potential hostel cases showed that upwards
of 50 places could be filled if accommodation were available in the town.
Owing to the lack of building land, the Council allocated a site in the
Gascoigne Redevelopment Area as in the case of the Adult Training Centre.
At the end of the year, approval had been given for building to commence,
and it is anticipated that the finished building will be handed over at the
end of 1968 or early in 1969.
Hostel for the Mentally Ill - Again a site was allocated within the
Gascoigne Redevelopment Area for a 25 place hostel, and the Ministry of
Health hoped to recommend loan sanction for the year 1969/70.
Replacement of Castle School (Junior Training Centre) - This, the only junior
training centre in the Borough, is conducted in a former school built in
1896 and it was agreed that a replacement building should be built as soon
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