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WELFARE
General
St. John Ambulance Association:
The local headquarters of the St. John Ambulance Association are situated at Harrington
Road, Southall. There are 23 Nursing Members, 4 Officers, 2 N.C.O.s (Nursing) and 11
Auxiliary Members.
The work carried out is as follows:—
Home Nursing and Nursing Equipment. The St. John Ambulance Nursing
Division has been trained in Home Nursing and First Aid to the Injured.
It also lends nursing equipment for use in the home from the Medical Comforts
Depot in Hartington Road, open every evening (except Saturdays,
Sundays and Bank Holidays) from 7.30 p.m. to 8.30 p.m. for the issue of
articles needed by the public. During the year 292 articles were lent under
the scheme—the 1961 figure was 286. Seven members belong to the National
Hospital Service Reserve.
Welfare—General. The St. John Ambulance Brigade carried out trainings in
First Aid and Home Nursing for all who cared to take advantage of the service,
also special courses for Civil Defence volunteers and for Scouts and
Guides. The members of the Nursing and Ambulance Divisions carried out
many other duties including attendance at local cinemas, sports, fairs, Old
Folks' Clubs, accompanying old people's group excursions to the seaside,
hospital duties, also sick visiting. Members also took part in duties further
afield, including London Airport, London theatres, concerts, etc. The
amount of voluntary time given to this good work is considerable. During
1962, 1,199 hours were spent on public duties, and 254 on miscellaneous
duties.
British Red Cross Society:
The Southall Division of the British Red Cross Society continued to increase in
membership during 1962.
Courses in First Aid, Nursing and Maternal and Child Welfare were given.
The Juniors, amongst their duties, included hospital work, and the two Girls' Cadet
units continued to grow. The Handcraft Club for the Disabled increased its membership,
and, once again, its members won many prizes in the Handicrafts section of the Southall
Show in August. There were various outings during the year for these handicapped people.
Other activities of the local Red Cross included escort duties, medical loan depot,
visiting, all clerical work connected with, and attendance at, Blood Donor sessions, emergency
help for disabled ex-Servicemen, the almoning of grants from various organisations
and charities, first aid duties at the local rugby football ground, the Royal Festival Hall and
school functions, and assistance as "casualties" and "casualty fakers" at the Civil Defence
exercises at the Hayes training ground.
A valuable section of the Division, apart from the uniformed V.A.D. members, is that
of the ordinary members, who help in many ways, other than medical or training ones.
They undertake regular escort duties, money-raising activities, and help with the Handcraft
Club for the Disabled each week.
Club for Disabled Persons:
A Club, for persons suffering from severe disablement, met fortnightly and was a
social and recreational one for people suffering from any physical handicap. Transport was
provided by members of the Rotary Club and Round Table for those members who were
unable to make their own way to the Club premises, which were at the Southall Community
Centre. The membership declined during 1962 to 9, members transferring to the Red
Cross Disabled Club (see above).
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