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87
a tail lift and equipped to carry passengers in wheel chairs, was
brought into service. The two vehicles travelled over 21,000 miles
providing 8,400 passenger journeys for disabled persons during
the year. If the vehicles and drivers were available, more could
be done to meet the needs of the home-bound disabled. For
example, the Work Centre at Alexandra Road School could have
been used by more people if the transport facilities to get them to
and from home had been available.
Occupational Work
The interest shown by the Penge Round Table in the welfare
of the handicapped in the Penge area resulted in a joint enterprise
commencing in June, 1967, between the department and a group
of Round Table members, whereby the Penge Work Centre opened
in an out-building at the Alexandra Road School. The premises
were used by the Drum Youth Centre and the Youth Officer of the
Education Department agreed that the two groups could share
the premises. The local authority had no financial provision to set
up such a Centre and it was due entirely to the enthusiastic
co-operation shown by the Penge Round Table and the staff of the
two departments that this Centre was able to open. The Industrial
Work Organiser obtained work from several firms and the clients
were conveyed to the Centre. The Centre was administered by a
joint committee of Round Tablers and members of my staff.
Pressure to expand the facilities to permit more disabled to attend
the Centre is already evident but without the resources to provide
more transport any expansion is limited to the very few who can
make their own travelling arrangements.
The Occupations Officers have played an important part in
introducing the disabled to the Centre and in supervising the work.
There has been unavoidable diminution in the amount of handicraft
instruction in the homes of disabled but, even so, 3,123 visits were
made during the year. A proportion of these were solely for the
supply of outwork materials and the collection of finished products.
Holidays
Financial restrictions prevented any expansion in the number
of holidays during 1967/68. Holidays were provided for 58
handicapped persons between May and July, 1967—the largest
group going to Caister Holiday Camp in Norfolk. Getting away
from home for a holiday presents so many problems involving
travelling arrangements, special accommodation, mobility in strange
surroundings, etc., that only by joining an organised holiday group
arranged by the local authority will many severely disabled people
venture to go away. The British Red Cross Society arrange a
holiday every year at California Lakeside camp in Berkshire and I
value highly the co-operation between the Society and the department
in the provision of support to the disabled.