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procuring books of all kinds from the National Library for the
Blind free of charge.
In addition, numbers of those afflicted have been assisted
to obtain Blind Old Age Pensions and free wireless licences.
The Council's scheme for providing grants (according to
income) to all necessitous blind persons has been a great boon,
as it has meant that all blind persons have an assured income,
thus obviating appeals to public assistance.
The East Ham Welfare Association for the Blind continues
to carry out its splendid work for these sufferers. In the Annual
Report of the Association for 1930-31 the Committee state that
a large addition has been made to the numbers on the register,
the number at the beginning of 1930 being 172, and on 31st March,
1931, 200. They are graded as follows:—
In residential schools 4
In workshops 17
In training 5
At work 6
St. Dunstan's men 5
Street musicians and sellers 3
Home workers 2
Training and not at work 2
Awaiting training 4
Pastime occupations 36
Domestic duties at home 21
Doing no pastime occupation (owing to age) 95
Forty-one weekly and 17 monthly magazines are supplied by
the Association for those desiring the same. Social evenings have
been arranged for the blind and their guides, and the Annual
Outing to Thorpe Bay was a great success. Groceries at
Christmas to necessitous cases, grants, extra nourishments in
case of sickness, tobacco and cigarettes, spectacles, dentures, ear
trumpets, and through the Ladies' Clothing Sub-Committee,
clothing, boots, etc., where needed, are a part of the activities
of the Association.