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46
(d) The Honorary Secretary for the Mental Welfare and After-Care
Committee, Mr. L. A. Bristow, incorporates his report with the
following by Miss Turner.
(e) The Secretary of the Essex Voluntary Association for Mental
Welfare, Miss Turner, sends the following report on the work of
the Occupation Centres provided by that Association at The
Settlement, Greenleaf Road:—
"With a view to training and congenial occupation for those
who have been excluded from Shernhall Street Special School, and
others over school age who are unable to take their place as
responsible and independent citizens, 2 Centres are provided in
Walthamstow, this being made possible by a grant to the
Association from the County Council.
"Children and Elder Girls.—Mornings: Mrs. Louis in charge.
Thirty-one have attended during the year, among them many
types and all grades and ages. Twelve elder girls have received
some training in domestic work; for games and dancing they join
the children, but for individual handwork they sit at a table apart.
Many of the children are helpless little ones, who need constant
attention from the Supervisor and her staff; others can make good
attempts at country dancing and learn simple stitchery.
"There can, of course, be little grading, but we feel that this is
not altogether a drawback. Is not the family unit a happy and
efficient training school where those of all ages and varying abilities
and responsibilities mix freely? The aim is to train the children
to fit more readily into their homes, and to become independent
of others in their personal needs. Music has an almost universal
appeal, and in dancing and singing, in drill and, above all, in
rhythmic work, it is used to stimulate and reinforce.
"Boys' Handicraft Class.—Afternoons: Miss Carter in charge.
Twenty-eight defectives have attended during the year, the eldest
aged 29 and the youngest 14. This number includes low-grade
defectives, but everything possible is done to encourage the boy
who, standing no chance of regular work, can yet keep jobs for
short periods. Eleven of the boys have had outside work during the
year. One was gardening, 1 had an ice-cream barrow, others worked
as sand-paperers; but mostly they had jobs as errand-boys or
"odd hand." One boy had settled down well with a pawnbroker
and stood outside to keep an eye on the stall, greatly to his parents'
satisfaction. One day, however, he took 14 hours to deliver a
parcel in City Road, E.C., and so came back to the Class.