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ADULT TRAINING CENTRE
Up to 1968 there was no Adult Training Centre in the Borough. A few selected patients over16
years of age attended the junior c
entres, but others were accommodated at the Adult Centres
operated by the Kent County Council at Darenth Park Hospital (males) and Swanley Senior
Training Centre (females).
In 1967 the upper floor of Shenstone, which had been used for Civil Defence Training purposes
became vacant and it was adapted to take 35 male and female adult trainees. Whilst far from ideal
accommodation, it has proved very useful and convenient and is doing very good work. As a result
of opening this centre, the adult trainees have been transferred from our own junior centres and
also from the Kent County Council centres at Darenth and Swanley. The trainees are employed in
a variety of tasks, e.g. dismantling old telephones, packing small goods, assembling plastic commodities,
etc. for which they receive payment on a scale related to their usefulness and the income
received by the centre for the work.
Both sexes are admitted. In 1969 it was possible to increase the available accommodation and to
increase the number of trainees attending to 45.
In 1969 a site for a new purpose-built adult training centre was obtained at Carlton Road,
Sidcup, on land owned by the Education Committee. This site of approximately one acre is well
situated with extensive open space adjacent. Plans have been drawn up for a centre to accommodate
100 adult trainees and it is hoped that building will commence in 1970 and the centre will be
in use by 1972.
HOSTEL FOR MENTALLY SUBNORMAL CHILDREN
A site at Falconwood, Welling was transferred to the Health Committee from the Kent County
Council in 1965. This site was being used temporarily for allotments. In 1967 the Council approved
a scheme to erect a residential home for 13 mentally subnormal children up to 16 years of age on
the land. This home is situated in a pleasant residential area and will be convenient for the children
to attend the new Marlborough Junior Training Centre referred to above. The home is expected to
open early in 1970.
SOCIAL AND RECREATION CLUB FOR MENTALLY SUB-NORMAL ADULTS
The local branches of the National Society for Mentally Handicapped Children offered to assist
in running a social and recreation centre for severly handicapped subnormal adults and the Council
permitted the use of Wren Road Clinic, Sidcup, on one evening a week. Staff from this department
serve on the committee and also attend as helpers. The number of persons attending averages 30
per week, comprising 14 males and 16 females aged between 16 and 35 years old.
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