[Report 1957] / Birmingham Education Committee, Special Services After Care sub-committee.

Birmingham (England). Education Committee. Special Services After Care Sub-committee.

Date:: 1957

Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1957] / Birmingham Education Committee, Special Services After Care sub-committee. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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“B” (25 years, under statutory supervision) lives with his father and grandmother as his mother deserted the family. He has worked at the same firm of shoe repairers for nine years and is now a relief manager. He has not married. His appear- ance and bearing have much improved over the last few years. “C” (aged 21, under statutory supervision) was the youngest of thirteen children. Her father died when she was two and her mother when she was fifteen years old. Three other members of the family have been under supervision. In spite of home difficulties she kept in employment and maintained high standards. She has now been married for three years. She and her husband have their own small house. They have two children, a boy and a girl, and both are cared for well. “D” (aged 24, under voluntary supervision) has worked at a firm of bakers and confectioners since she left school. She is now in charge of a number of other girls in the cream depart- ment. She is engaged to be married and hopes to emigrate to New Zealand. “E” (aged 30, under statutory supervision) was excluded from school and lived with his widowed mother. He has a partially paralysed hand and used to have severe epileptic fits. He was at home for ten years and then started work as a gardener; he has been in the same post for eight years. He does not have fits now; he seems sensible and capable and his appear- ance is improved. “F” (aged 25, under statutory supervision) was excluded from a school for partially sighted children. She has lost the sight of one eye and has only poor vision in the other. She has managed to keep a job as a non-resident domestic worker in a nurses’ home at a hospital. Her family give her good support. Her understanding is limited but she seems to manage well in her own small sphere. OCCUPATION CENTRES In September 1957 the Senior Girls’ Centre was moved from the Cotton Youth Institute to the ground fioor of the Bell Barn Centre in Bristol Street. The building, and in particular the hall, is now shared with a Senior Boys’ Centre. This arrangement, though an improvement, is regarded as a temporary expedient only. Premises for the boys’ centre are being sought in North Birmingham. If they can be found then there will be a senior boys’ centre in each half of the city and there will be more room for senior girls at Bell Barn. There have been no changes in the accommodation for junior centres in 1957. At the end of 1957 there were 393 places in senior and junior centres together. There are still long waiting lists for both and it is a matter for regret that the provision of a new building has again had to be deferred.