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100
VOLUNTARY ORGANISATIONS
The activities of the Hackney Association for the Welfare of Old People,
the Hackney Association for Workshops for the Elderly, the Hackney District
Nursing Association and the Tuberculosis Care Committees are referred to
elsewhere in this Report.
(a) ST. JOSEPH'S HOSPICE, Mare Street, E.8. This Home, run by a community
of Catholic Nuns, is provided primarily for persons in the last stages of
illness; cases are admitted from the areas of all four Metropolitan Regional
Hospital Boards, and occasionally from further afield. Of the total complement
of 152 beds, 100 are available to the North-East Metropolitan Regional Hospital
Board and 12 beds for women are at the disposal of the London County Council.
During the year there were 321 female and 212 male admissions. Discharges and
transfers to the number of 36 took place, and there were 484 deaths.
(b) WOMEN'S VOLUNTARY SERVICES. This organisation continued to provide a
trolley library service at the Hackney Hospital and a tea trolley service at
the German Hospital. Other activities included visits to patients in hospital,
assistance to old age pensioners, Territorial Army canteen, arrangements for
seaside holidays for children and old age pensioners, escort journeys, and the
collection and distribution of clothing for persons in need of same.
(c) ST. JOHN AMBULANCE BRIGADE. The total number of members increased from
19 to 22 during the year. The new members were men who rejoined the Division
after a short absence.

(d) BRITISH RED CROSS SOCIETY. The various Women's and Men's Detachments
and Cadet Units functioned as in previous years.
(e) HACKNEY, SHOREDITCH, STOKE NEWINGTON AND DISTRICT DIABETIC CLUB.
This organisation, now in its sixth year, continues to prosper and has a
membership of some 160 persons,, Club meetings were held at monthly intervals.
The year 1959 marked the Silver Jubilee of the Foundation of the British
Diabetic Association to which the local Diabetic Club is affiliated.
(f) THE FAMILY PLANNING ASSOCIATION. holds Clinics on Monday and Wednesday
evenings at the London County Council Welfare Centre situated at 28, Lower
Clapton Road, E. 5.
(g) HACKNEY AND STOKE NEWINGTON DEANERY MORAL WELFARE ASSOCIATION. This
Association continues to do most excellent work for the unmarried mother and
her baby and other persons with moral difficulties. New cases dealt with
during the year amounted to 165. Of the 117 maternity cases, 12 babies were
sent for adoption, 3 were sent to residential nurseries and 4 to foster
parents. The remaining mothers kept their babies and are living either in the
homes of relatives or have found their own accommodation.