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46. The West Kent Spastic Society has a Work Centre for spastics
at 17 Park Road, Bromley, where industrial training is given with
a view to progression to sheltered workshops for severely handicapped
persons or into open industry.
47. The Good Companions Club is a new voluntary association
in the Borough, which aims to provide social activities for the
severely handicapped. The club holds its meetings at Melvin Hall,
Penge, and its disabled members provide the driving force themselves
by playing a leading role in the organisation of events and
activities. Meetings are held fortnightly on Monday evenings.
48. In March, 1966, a branch of the Multiple Sclerosis Society was
formed in the Borough to cater for the needs of persons with this
disability and also to raise funds for research. The Borough has
given every support to the Bromley branch of the society, and one
of the senior social workers is a member of the Committee.
49. Whilst a good beginning has been made in furthering the
welfare of the severely disabled in the Borough, it is recognised
that it is only a beginning. In a Borough with a population of over
300,000 there must be more severely handicapped persons of working
age than the 295 so far registered. It is clear that as the welfare
services of the Borough become more widely known, and as the
activities of voluntary groups broaden, more disabled people will
seek the support and material assistance available. The extension
of group activities is as dependent on the availability of suitable
premises and means of transport as it is on the enthusiasm of the
social workers, voluntary workers, and the disabled themselves. To
create the demand for facilities, to enable the disabled to lead as
full a life in the social and industrial spheres as possible, the trained
and experienced field workers will be looked to for encouraging
the will to overcome their disabilities. This is especially so with
the homebound. If such casework is successful a rise in the amount
spent on adaptations to property and various aids is to be expected.
50. To meet the expected demand for facilities the Borough has
included in the development plan for the period to 1975 a social
and occupational centre to cater for the needs of the disabled. The
further provision of vehicles, specially adapted to carry persons
confined to wheelchairs, is envisaged.
51. As severely disabled people become more articulate members
of society and more aware that they can play an important part in
the life of the community, close co-operation between all agencies
in this field is essential to meet the challenge.