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unable to make their own way to the Club premises, which were at the Southall Community
Centre. The membership rose during 1959 to a figure of 26—the average attendance being
18. Members make themselves useful to the Community Centre staff in little ways, and
this is of considerable therapeutic value.
The Hard of Hearing Club:
This Club, which was inaugurated in 1955, continues to be popular and useful to its
members, who number about 40. The Committee is very energetic and the programmes
arranged for the members were varied, interesting and often directly useful in helping them
to come to terms with their disability. The meetings throughout the year were well attended
and although the summer was a prolonged one the attendance at group meetings was excellent.
The Welfare Committee of the Southall Group had numerous calls for services—
assistance was given for all who needed such service. It is felt that there are many more of
the residents in the Borough who are hard of hearing or severely deafened who could be
helped if they were aware of the facilities provided by the League.
Two members attended the Old Age Pensioners' Holiday at Margate organised by the
Welfare Committee of the Middlesex & Surrey League. A party of eleven attended the
Southern Area Rally at Clacton organised by the British Association of the Hard of Hearing.
One new subject developed in 1959 was "Clear Speech" and members are being encouraged
to develop their speech, which may often be difficult due to the fact that the severely deafened
person cannot hear his own voice. A Southall member won the West Middlesex Area
championship of Clear Speech in 1959. Inter-group activities in the West Middlesex Area
have been taking place, giving an expansion of interests, companionship, and cultural
activity to the Group.
Diabetic Club:
The Club for Diabetics, started in 1956, continued to function throughout 1959. This
Club was founded to enable sufferers from diabetes as well as those interested in diabetes,
i.e. for relatives or friends of diabetics, to meet together socially and to have the opportunity
to discuss their individual problems with fellow sufferers and to hear authoritative talks
from speakers particularly interested in diabetes such as doctors and other nutrition and
health experts. The membership was 35 and the attendance at monthly meetings averaged
about 24 but altogether some 130 diabetics have enjoyed the benefits of the club since its
formation.
Home Advice Group:
This Group, created for the purpose of assisting and advising mothers with problems,
continued to function throughout the year. Meetings were held weekly at the Work Centre
for the Elderly in the Municipal Sports Ground. A programme of interesting discussions,
demonstrations and specialist speakers was carried out during the year. The Group is assisted
financially by the Housing Committee of the Borough Council and is under the direction of
a Co-ordinating Committee of officials of the various bodies concerned with welfare of the
family. The membership increased to 21 by the end of the year, with an average attendance
of 15.
Welfare of the Blind and Partially Sighted:
The welfare services for blind and partially-sighted are the responsibility of the County
Council under the National Assistance Act, 1948.
The County Council's Welfare Department provides a Home Teaching service, the
object of which is to enable blind and partially-sighted people to lead as full and active lives
as their handicap allows, by assisting them in overcoming the effects of their disabilities.
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