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57
THE TWELFTH ANNUAL REPORT
FOR THE
Year ending 31st December, 1926,
ON THE
PROVISION OF MEALS TO SCHOOL CHILDREN IN
WILLESDEN.
Feeding Centres.—Meals have been supplied at the four Feeding Centres under the control of
the Education Committee, namely Gibbons Road, Furness Road, Strode Road and Lower Place, and
at one voluntary centre at Granville Road.
Dinners are still taken from Strode Road Feeding Centre to Leopold Road Physically Defective
School. The dinners are served in the Laundry Centre by an Assistant from Strode Road Feeding
Centre.
Breakfasts.—The practice of serving breakfasts to children whose parents are unusually
poor has been continued throughout the year. Most of these cases have been in the South Kilburn
area, but breakfasts were served at all the Feeding Centres during the General Strike. The meal
consists of cocoa made with dried milk and sugar, and bread and margarine.
Staffing.—The staff employed at each of the Feeding Centres is approximately one assistant
to every 50 children fed.
Selection of Children.—Recommendations are accepted as heretofore from School Teachers,
Health Nurses and the Clinic Medical Staff, subject to review by immediate investigation of the
economic circumstances of the family. The total number of new application forms presented to
the Education Committee's Centres throughout the year was 737. Recommendations are also re-,
ceived from the Willesden Board of Guardians, an agreement having been made whereby they pay
the Willesden Education Authority 1 /- per head per week or part of a week for each child fed at the
Education Committee's Centres on their recommendation. This scheme came into operation on
30th October, 1922, the Guardians supplying every four weeks the list of children to be fed.
The economic circumstances scale was revised and raised one shilling per head on the 20th
November, 1924.
Kilburn Feeding Centre.—Dinners.—The children of the South Kilburn area are fed at
the Voluntary Centre established at the Presbyterian Mission Hall, Granville Road. No change has
been made with regard to the serving of meals, and the table appointments are still one spoon. The
meals are more appetising, but without much variety.
The price per meal was raised from 4d. to 5d. on the 12th November, 1923. The earlier arrivals
hurry through their meal and scramble out as soon as they have finished to make room for the newcomers,
thereby making a constant stream of children through the dining room and destroying all
possibility of order.
Kilburn Breakfasts.—The provision of breakfasts at Carlton Vale School House has been
continued throughout the year, the arrangements being carried out by the Caretaker. The number
of application forms received from South Kilburn for the year was—Dinners 237—Breakfasts 105.
Meals.—A two weekly menu was commenced in the Education Committees' Centres on April
6th, 1925. This provides four meat meals and one meatless meal one week, and three meat meals
and two meatless meals the second week, each being followed by a pudding or stewed fruit.
The price of meals for non-necessitous cases is 5d. as heretofore.