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Number of children dealt with over 5 years of age— Boys, 88;
Girls, 84.
Number of children dealt with under 5 years of age, 63.
304 supervisory visits were made during the year, and in
addition 140 miscellaneous visits were made.
(c) Central Boot Fund Committee.— The Honorary Secretary,
Mr. A. J. Blackhall, has very kindly sent the following
account of the work of the Boot Fund during 1937:—
"The distribution of footwear for the year ended 31st December,
1937, was slightly lower than for the previous year, 1,024 pairs
being distributed at a cost of approximately £313. A feature of
the year's work was the decision of the Committee to supply shoes
to boys, instead of boots, where the parents so desire."
(d) Miss S. C. Turner, Secretary of the Essex Voluntary
Association for Mental Welfare, kindly contributes the following
report on work in Walthamstow:—
"Not the least important of the Association's work is the
supervision of those defectives placed by the Essex County Council
under Statutory supervision, and of others, often indistinguishable
in type from those who are under voluntary supervision; much of
this work is carried out in Walthamstow through members of the
Mental and After-Care Committee, to whom the Association acknowledges
a debt of gratitude.
"Included in supervision work is the running of two Training
Centres, as follows:—
"Occupation and Training Centre.— Supervisor, Miss Barbara
Drury.
"This Centre, held in the Settlement, Greenleaf Road, provides
training and occupation for defective children, excluded from the
Special School, and for older girls who, having left the Special
School, are unable to find work. Boys on reaching 14 years of age
are transferred to the woodwork class for senior boys, where they
can be given more vigorous work to do.
"Training at the Centre is directed towards developing the
ability of each child so that he acquires some measure of independence
and becomes a happy and, perhaps, even useful member in the
family. By means of apparatus the younger children are trained to
distinguish colours, sizes, shapes, etc., and by their simple handwork
learn to use the finer muscles of their hands and fingers. The