London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
View report page
Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Croydon 1961
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Croydon]
This page requires JavaScript
54
Training
Junior Training Centre
During the year 28 severly subnormal adults were transferred to the Bensham Training Centre, but in other respects there was no significant change in training arrangements, and statistics are given below:-
| Number on register January 1961 | 94 |
| Number on register December 1961 | 76 |
| Number of admissions | 20 |
| Number left | 10 |
| Number transferred to Adult Centre | 28 |
| Average Attendance per session | 73 |
| Times open morning and afternoon | 390 |
| Total attendance 2 | 28,224 |
Bensham Training Centre
This centre for adult subnormal and severely subnormal
persons opened on 5th September 1961, and will eventually provide
training facilities for approximately 60 persons. Initial
admissions which numbered 32 had risen to 37 ( 20 males, 17 females)
by the end of the year.
The Centre is a temporary one pending the provision of a
specially built unit and activities, designed to be purposeful
rather than purely occupational, include carpentry, laundry and
domestic work, and assembly or simple repetitive projects. Obtaining
suitable work from industry has been the main problem
and although there has been some progress further advancements
could be achieved with more enthusiastic support from local
firms. The efforts of the Disablement Resettlement Officer to
overcome this difficulty have been greatly welcomed.
Particulars of work undertaken are shown below.
Carpentry Group (males).
Domestic Group (females).
Workshop Groups
(males and females)
woodwork repairs to furniture
and equipment.
Stool, tray making.
Laundry of both training
centres, linen repairs,
kitchen duties.
Pitting Inserts into metal
caps
Making natural wood birdcage
perches