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Miss Baker, Mrs. Bohannon and Mrs. Hayden joined the Staff whilst we lost
the services of Mrs. Measures, Mrs. MacKenzie and Mrs. Jenning.
1969 was a successful year inasmuch, slowly as it may have been, all
the children made progress.
HOLIDAY PLAY CENTRE
To provide some relief to parents during the long summer holiday, a
Day Holiday Play Centre was held at Castle School from Monday to Friday for
the two weeks, l8th-29th August, 19&9.
The supervision of the Centre was undertaken by a Trained Teacher of the
Sub-normal and additional staff was recruited, including students of Teacher
Training Colleges and mothers of the trainees.
This Centre was attended by trainees-junior and adult-although
some only attended for one week due to family holiday commitments.
HOSTEL FOR THE MENTALLY SUB-NORMAL
The first residential facilities for the mentally sub-normal in the
community were provided during the year when on 17th March, 1969, Louise
Graham House, was formally opened by Councillor Mrs. C. S. M. Godfrey, J.P.
The building provides 24 places for mentally sub-normal adults and two staff
flats. It is sited in the Gascoigne redevelopment area not far from the
Adult Training Centre in Gascoigne Road so that residents may easily avail
themselves of the training facilities provided in the Centre. The hostel
offers a home to mentally handicapped persons without relatives, and
temporary care for those whose parents are either recovering from illness
or availing themselves of a short holiday.
Louise Graham House is furnished to a high standard mainly through
the efforts of voluntary workers and associations who have made substantial
contributions to the furnishings and equipment. A plan of the accommodation
is given on page 58.
This building will not accommodate all those residents of the Borough
who are in need of this type of care, and consideration is being given to
the possibility of converting the York House Nurses Training Home to
provide additional hostel accommodation if the proposal to discontinue
its present use is approved.
VOLUNTARY ASSOCIATIONS
Annually the Borough Council makes a contribution to the local
voluntary associations, viz. the Dagenham Association and the Barking
Association for Mental Health.
The Dagenham Association holds monthly meetings with speakers to
stimulate a public interest in mental health and gives financial aid
to the mentally ill within the Borough. They have also set up a preschool
play group for the children of mentally-ill parents which operates
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