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Colombo House 1 Ferry Road Teddington
This is a voluntary residential establishment for
subnormal and severely subnormal children suitable
for community care, which was opened within the
catchment area of the Hanworth Junior Training
School late in 1964. This created an artificially high
demand for places in the school and, at one stage, a
large waiting list. As a temporary measure, until the
replacement of the present Hanworth Junior Training
School by the larger purpose-built one, a class was
started in Colombo House for 18 children under an
assistant supervisor provided by the borough. This
class has been an appreciable success although it is
realised that the children concerned are denied the
chance of a change of environment and the educational
value and stimulus of a journey to school each
day.
Arrangements have been made whereby the
managers of Colombo House charge the borough an
inclusive rent for the classroom and the borough
makes a charge to other local health authorities who
are financially responsible for certain of the trainees
in attendance.
Adult Training Centres
There are two centres within the borough.
Acton Lodge Adult Training Centre London Road
Brentford
This consists of two separate buildings—
a. an old three storied building which was originally
a residential property and was converted and
opened in 1957 as an adult training centre. This
building accommodates approximately 40 trainees.
b. a new purpose-built section which was opened in
July 1962 is a one storey building which can
accommodate approximately 100 trainees.
A variety of modern machinery has been installed
in the new building particularly that for woodwork
and although a wide range of skilled carpentry has
been undertaken, a contract has not yet been obtained
that would fully utilise this machinery. In addition an
air pressure plant has been installed for power
operated tools.
A large lean-to greenhouse was constructed and
erected in the grounds of this centre two years ago
using trainee labour and this year a heating system has
been installed and a boilerhouse erected mainly by
trainees. Concrete blocks made on the premises were
used in the construction of the boilerhouse, and
wooden partitioning, fencing and roofing have all
been made in the woodwork department.
A concrete mixer and block mould has enabled the
trainees to produce a range of concrete products such
as blocks, containers for plant culture by the ring
method and vases.
In the garden and greenhouse a wide range of
plants is grown, in particular tomatoes and chrysanthemums,
and the installation of heating in the
greenhouse will enable a considerable expansion.
The principal activity in the main workshop is still
the assembly of a variety of electrical components.
Arrangements have been made with the Chief
Education Officer to employ a half-time teacher for
the higher grade trainees. It is envisaged that the
classes would be small, not more than eight trainees,
and that suitable trainees should have sessional
periods daily. The aim would be to teach elementary
reading and writing or, at least, a word recognition,
simple letter writing, an appreciation of money values,
in particular with relation to the cost of common
articles, and an elementary level of general knowledge,
all of which would be aimed as having a practical
application to everyday life. It is hoped that the
teacher appointed may extend her activities and
organise various social activities such as shopping,
travelling, telephone calls, in an attempt to facilitate
independence on the part of trainees. With the present
ratio of instructors, one for every 15 trainees, it has
not yet been possible to institute this programme of
training in social competence. Instructors have been
made aware of this problem and do endeavour in
day-to-day matters to instruct and help the trainees
to become more competent and self-sufficient.
Once a fortnight a 'club night' is run voluntarily by
the staff which is attended by a large number of
trainees in spite of the distance many of them have to
travel to their homes. Efforts have been made to liaise
with the local youth council and local youth groups
and this has proved a considerable success. They
have provided entertainment and hospitality to the
trainees on a number of occasions. By this policy it
is hoped to make young people aware and
sympathetic to the problems of subnormality, and
by a knowledge of the problems to dispel the many
groundless fears and prejudices that accure from
ignorance.
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