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18
VOLUNTARY WORKERS AND THE SUPPLY OF MILK.
I am indebted to Mrs. Richardson for the following particulars:—
Early in 1920 a memorandum was received by the Council from
the Ministry of Health, pointing out how necessary it was that a
Welfare Centre should have a managing committee, containing
voluntary workers, and including working women. Their assistance,
it said, both on the Committee and in the practical work of the
Institution, creates an atmosphere of human sympathy and friendship,
which is eminently desirable.
The value of disinterested work of this kind is immeasurable.
The voluntary workers will only be of use if they are competent,
can attend regularly, and have definite duties allotted to them.
Such work as the keeping of records, preparing babies for weighing,
showing model garments and giving simple instructions as to
their making, may properly be undertaken by voluntary workers.
On receipt of this memorandum, all women's organisations
in the district were invited to submit names of suitable women,
who duly met and commenced their duties by arranging for the
Annual Baby Day and Garden Partv in the Manor House grounds
in July. All matters connected with the competitions for babies
were under the care of the staff at the Centre, but an attractive
programme, with an address suitable to the occasion by Dr. Barbara
Tchaykovsky, of Harrow, was arranged by the voluntary workers.
The profit resulting was devoted partly to form the nucleus of a
fund for needy mothers, and partly to the purchase of materials—
to which the Council added a grant of £5—with which to start a
sewing class for mothers, in accordance with the wishes of the
Ministry.
At this sewing class model hygienic garments are made by the
mothers—the material being supplied at cost price and cut out by
the voluntary workers, who also give instruction and assistance,
if desired, with the needlework.
The Ministry also advise collective teaching and health talks,
which are given on the same afternoon bv Nurse Boyd. It has
been found best to hold the sewing class and health talk for mothers
on Clinic afternoons, when voluntary workers attend to relieve the
mothers of the care of the babies while waiting to see the doctor.
The model garments have proved very attractive to mothers,
who also welcome the assistance given to them. The voluntary
workers are also prepared to provide cut-out paper patterns.
The voluntary workers number 16, and each has her special
duty. Some admit the mothers on Clinic days, prepare teas for
them, and serve the drugs, oil and malt, and dried milk ordered by
the doctor.