View report page

Residential Facilities
MOORCROFT WEEKLY BOARDING UNIT
The Weekly Boarding Unit caters for 19 children aged 4-11 years, Monday-Friday and for
school term periods only. The Unit's aim is to assist wherever possible those families who have
additional problems as well as having a mentally handicapped child (i.e. mother a widow and
has to work, more than one handicapped child in family).
The Unit has not been fully occupied this year but has nevertheless proved its purpose.
There are problems from time to time, since the Unit is not a seven day one, as the families being
assisted must cope with their handicapped children at weekends and holidays. It is hoped to
replace the Unit in 1972/73 and due consideration will be given to the extension of its facilities
to cover these problems.
The Matron (Mrs. E. Newman) reports:
"During 1970 the children at this Unit gained considerable benefit from the members of the
Hayes and Harlington Community Centre and from the Independent Order of the Foresters, who
adopted the Unit, as part of their Charity for the year. The members of the T.O.D. Club, who are
attached to the Community Centre, presented the children with an indoor slide and climbing
frame, as well as numerous other toys. The children derived great pleasure from these during the
winter months when outdoor activities are restricted, but during the Spring and Summer months,
most of their 'out of school' time is spent either in the garden or by being taken for walks and
to a nearby Children's Park. Members of the Hillingdon Girl Guides visited the Unit every third
Thursday of each month, to help the children. They also gave each child a small present at Christmas.
Each child has his own birthday party and present, those whose birthdays fall during the Summer
months delight in having a picnic party in the garden. At Christmas a party was held for all the
children and their families. This is an annual event, which has always proved most successful as
it does give the parents an opportunity to meet and discuss their own particular problems, not
only with each other, but with Dr. Browne, General Practitioner of the Unit and myself.
On July 21st the members of the T.O.D. Club paid for 12 children and five members of staff
to be taken by coach to Worthing for the day; this again proved most successful.
Next year the Independent Order of Forresters will be paying for the children to have a
holiday at Clacton.
Every effort is made by the staff to create activities for the children. This can be difficult during
bad weather as the children are restricted to the Unit. It is hoped however, that during 1971 we
will be able to make full use of the 'mini-buses' which are now available to us".
BOURNE HOSTEL FOR SUBNORMAL ADULTS
This purpose-built hostel caters for 30 adult subnormals, 15 of each sex and the beds are
allocated as follows:
12 of each sex for permanent residents
2 of each sex for short-term care
1 of each sex for emergencies
Bourne Hostel has proved its need time and time again since it opened in 1967 and it is now
full on the permanent resident side apart from 1 male bed. During the year 17 periods of short-term
care were given.
Parents and relatives have expressed their delight in the facilities offered at this hostel and
many parents hope that by the time they are unable to cope with their child through age, infirmity
or death, their child will be able to enter this or a similar hostel.
This type of accommodation is obviously one which will need expanding to meet the future
care of adult subnormals, particularly as hospital facilities used in the past will probably only be
available to those in need of treatment or nursing care.
59