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and Friday route (Plumstead and Abbey Wood area). Within a month
of the commencement of the service over 100 applications had been
received. There were 16 regular helpers and 11 drivers giving
their services voluntarily.
The financing of the Mobile Meals Scheme is similar to the
financial arrangements for the Lunch Clubs, the old person paying
l0d. per meal, the County Council contributing a similar amount per
meal, and the Borough Council making a financial contribution to
cover the remaining expenses, apart from the cost of petrol.
The Old People's Welfare Committee report that the recipients
consider that the meals are extremely good and are received hot.
Delivery of the meals was speeded up once the drivers became more
familiar with the routes. However, it is not practical to deliver
more than about 36 meals a day because of the time factor.
Lunch Clubs
The Plumstead and Eltham Lunch Clubs operated fully during 1957
on five days per week. The number of persons having meals varied
little from the previous year. Meals for the Plumstead Lunch Club
are transported daily from the Plumstead Baths, and those for the
Eltham Lunch Club are delivered to the Progress Hall from a Plumstead
caterer. A contribution of over £1,000 was made by the Borough
Council to this service during the year.
Holidays.
The Holiday Scheme in the Borough is operated by the Woolwich
Council of Social Service. Applications were received from 140
elderly persons living in the Borough to have a holiday in 1957, and
although there were 100 places available, due to unavoidable cancellations,
no one who had not had a holiday in the last two years
was refused. Owing to the increased grant made available for this
work in the year it was possible for 16 more persons to have a holida;
than in 1956. Forty-five persons went to Westgate for a week's
holiday in May and 40 in September, all travelling by coach. In
addition, 50 infirm persons were helped with a holiday at a special
holiday hone. Altogether there were 17 cancellations, including
8 through illness. Personal interviews were necessary in respect of
all the applicants. About 90 per cent, of those having a holiday
were in receipt of National Assistance.
The Old People's Welfare Committee report that the arrangements
worked very satisfactorily, and that more than 50 letters of
appreciation were received during the year.
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