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WELFARE OF OLD PEOPLE (CONTD.)
The work is co-ordinated through the Surbiton Old People's
Welfare Committee, a voluntary body representative of most walks
of life and presided over by His Worship the Mayor.
The Town Council leases to the Committee a large house
which, after extensive works of repair and re-decoration, was
opened in September 1958 as a Centre for old people, including
clubrooms, recreation rooms, handicraft room, chiropody clinic
and canteen. The chiropody service is now being conducted on
behalf of the County Council.
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
4,374.
The Borough Council has provided ninety-four special flats
for aged people, and a further twelve are under construction.
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, have had several
meetings and 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.
During the year meetings of Field Social Workers in
Chessington Area were held. There appeared to be a desire for
all social workers to meet informally, and to establish contact
with each other beyond the telephone.
The meetings proved to be very helpful to all concerned.
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