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BECKENHAM OLD PEOPLE'S WELFARE SERVICES
The various services available for elderly persons can be
summarised as :—
1. Meals. 6. Visiting.
2 Clubs for recreation 7. Grants (cash or goods).
3. Chiropody. 8. Parties and entertainment.
4. Outing and holidays. 9. Emergency help.
5. Personal service. 10. Information handbook.
Meals
These are cooked at two centres. They are delivered in insulated
containers on two special vans to the homes of those who from illness
or infirmity are unable to provide for themselves hot meals.
Meals are served three times a week from West Wickham and
Beckenham. Thirty-five meals are taken out each time from West
Wickham and 40 from Beckenham. There are now two Luncheon
Clubs, the meals are cooked by W.V.S. and only a nominal charge is
made. Thirty-five meals are served by each Club.
For the rest of Beckenham 46 meals are delivered twice a week.
The Old People's Welfare Committee hopes to provide a Day
Centre which, unlike the Clubs mentioned later in this report, will be
open every day of the week to provide social and recreational activities
and a Luncheon Club. In addition the kitchen facilities at this centre
may enable a daily delivery of hot meals to be made and so increase
the numbers of homes included in this service.
The Borough Council are helping the Committee with this project,
and in addition, having provided a second equipped meals van in 1961
are helping with the maintenance and repair of the two vehicles at an
estimated total cost of £150-£200 per annum. The Council also make
an annual contribution of £52 to subsidise the cost of meals which are
provided at a charge of Is. Od. to Is. 6d. Nevertheless very considerable
voluntary help by assisting at the Centre and helping with the Meal
Service will be required from the Borough to set up and maintain the
Day Centre which could become the pivot of the service.
Clubs
The Borough Council pays grants in respect of the annual rents
of the following clubs which meet weekly at various premises in the
borough :—
Coney Hall over 60's Civil Defence " C " Centre, Croydon Road.
(Thursday afternoons) (formerly Assembly Hall).
West Wickham over 60's Lecture Hall, Sussex Road.
(Monday afternoons)
Darby and Joan West Beckenham Hall, Sidney Road.
(Tuesday afternoons)
Darby and Joan West Beckenham Hall, Sidney Road.
(Thursday afternoons)
Darby and Joan Azelia Hall, Croydon Road.
(Tuesday afternoons)
Veterans' Club Azelia Hall, Croydon Road.
(Thursday afternoons)
These clubs enable pensioners to lead a happy communal life once
a week and the activities of the clubs are directed by its own members
committees assisted by a W.V.S. Leader and W.V.S. Secretary. The
Veterans Club was a community service project of the Rotary Club
of Beckenham.
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