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110
COUNTY COUNCIL OF ESSEX—WELFARE COMMITTEE
WELFARE SERVICES
Mr. G. E. Pegram, O.B.E., County Welfare Officer, kindly
contributes the following:—
"The statistics set out below show the extent to which the
main services provided by the County Welfare Committee under
the National Assistance Act, 1948, have been afforded to persons
residing within the Borough of Walthamstow during the year
1955:—
(1) Residential and Temporary Accommodation.
(a) Admitted to hostels and other residential establishments:
Men, 31; Women, 27.
(b) Admitted to temporary accommodation: Men, 4;
Women, 10; Children, 17.
(2) Blind Persons.
The numbers of registered blind, partially sighted and
defective sighted persons resident in the Borough during the
twelve months ended 31st December, 1955, were as follows
(i) Registered as blind 246
(ii) Partially sighted 51
(iii) Defective sighted 13
all of whom were under the supervision of the County
Council's Home Teachers. During the year six blind persons
participated in the Home Workers' Scheme operated through
the agency of the Royal London Society for the Blind, and
one blind person was employed in the Workshops for the
Blind. In addition, there were twenty-seven blind and sixteen
partially sighted persons in open industry.
"The County Council's Scheme for welfare services for
handicapped persons (general classes) and the deaf and dumb
and hard of hearing are operating with the co-operation of
voluntary organisations specialising in this field of work, but of
course, the implementation of such Schemes is necessarily a
gradual although progressive process."
The Part III accommodation controlled by the Welfare Department
at Langthorne Hospital is now known as Wessex House and
Brookfield is now known as Spackman House. The accommodation
at the latter has been increased to take 14 men and 31 women.
The accommodation, furnishing and care afforded are all of a very
high standard.