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WELFARE OF OLD PEOPLE (CONTD.)
A meals on wheels service is operated by the Surbiton Division
of the British Red Cross Society, and the Council makes a generous
contribution towards the cost involved. The number of subsidised
mid-day meals distributed during the year was 4509.
The Borough Council has provided ninety-four special flatlets
for aged people, and a further twenty is contemplated.
There can be no exaggeration of the importance of this work for
the old people, or of its increasing urgency as year succeeds year
and more survive to the older age groups.
It is now imperative that the contributions in money and
services by the Local Authorities i.e. County and Borough be
extended and continuous co-ordination be exerted over all the field
of work.
CO-ORDINATION OF HEALTH AND OTHER SOCIAL SERVICES.
In 1957 a committee of the Council was formed to consider and
report upon methods of co-operation between the Town Council and
other bodies concerned with the health and other social services
within the Borough, to assist if required in the co-ordination of
such work, and to examine ways of encouraging recruitment of more
voluntary workers.
The need for such work was indicated by the consideration of
the Housing Committee of the previously published report of the
Working Party of the Surrey County Council on the Prevention of
Break-up of Families.
The Committee, and its Sub-Committees, had several meetings
and had discussions with representatives of organisations in the
Borough, and concluded that there is a need for a closer link
between such organisations and the Council.
In an endeavour to bring the various organisations in the
Borough into closer touch with one another and to integrate the
various forms of social service work, the Mayor convened a meeting
of local organisations at the Surbiton Assembly Rooms on 10th
December, 1959, to discuss the co-ordination of health and other
social services, and a full report made to the Town Council, viz:"Over
seventy representatives of local societies had attended.
The representatives present agreed that a conference of
local organisations should be convened at least twice a year by
the Mayor for the time being, to afford an opportunity of meeting
together to discuss mutual problems.
It was also agreed that organisations should be requested to
send to the Citizens' Advice Bureau the names and addresses of
their officers, details of activities, meeting places, and any
other information as to assistance that might be required which
could be afforded by mutual co-operation between the organisations.
When this information was received it would be possible to complete
a comprehensive record of social service organisations in the
Borough and particulars could be made available, on request, to
any persons or societies seeking fuller details of local social
service activities."
24.