[Report 1937] / Medical Officer of Health, Sheffield City.

  • Sheffield (England). City Council.
Date:
1937
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1937] / Medical Officer of Health, Sheffield City. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    110/208 (page 108)
    Children.—546 children were admitted to the Homes during 1937 as against 427 in the previous year. Included in these figures are 93 children admitted under the Expectant ]\Iothers-Care of Children Scheme, the admissions under this latter scheme in 1936 numbering 41. The daily average number of children resident in the Homes was 261 as against 265 in 1936. The reports of the Medical Superintendent and the District Medical Of6cers upon the health of the children regularly resident in the Homes continued to be highly satisfactory. Education.—Children from the Homes attended 28 different schools in the City during the year, mixing with the outside child population in small inconspicuous numbers. Two boys qualified for entrance to secondary schools ; one girl who attended a secondary school obtained the School Certificate of the Northern Universities Board and continued her education at the Central Day Commercial College, later obtaining an appointment on the Corjioration staff ; one girl attending (Ireystones Intermediate School matriculated and is continuing her education at the Central Day Commercial College. Sports, Entertainments, etc.—The usual sports, games and physical training con¬ tinued during the year. Many swimming prizes and certificates were gained and Doris May Slater was champion swimmer of Manor Girls’ School and gained a free pass to the Corporation Baths. Trophies are provided by Councillor W. S. Graham, J.P., for the best l)oy swimmer and girl swimmer and these w'ere won by Thomas French and Doris May Slater respectively. Entertainments were provided in the Recreation Hall during the winter months, and on a number of occasions children w'ere invited to attend entertainments outside the Homes. Training.—Boys and girls who had left school were given training in the Homes in the Tailors and Shoemakers Shops and in the gardens, the stores, the sewing room and the hand laundry. Girls were also trained in the Homes in domestic science and similar subjects. Employment wais found for nine boys and seventeen girls during the year—in the Merchant service, the Navy, as Clerks and craftsmen and in various nursing and domestic capacities. Three Roman Catholic girls were transferred to the Knolle Park School, Liverpool, for training and one boy after a period of training at Gravesend Sea School became a Ship’s Steward. Five w'orking boys were boarded out during the year. These boys were regularly supervised and also ])aid periodic visits to the Homes. One boy w'as allow^ed to take his discharge, having become entirely self supporting. After-Care.—Nine boys and eight girls in situations attained the age of 18 years and their bank books, with credit balances amounting in the aggregate to £146 19s. 5d., were handed to them. At the end of the year, there were tw'elve boys and twelve girls in situations and still under the care of the Committee. They were regularly visited and they visited the Homes frequently. Approximately 160 former children of the Homes attended the Annual Re-Union which was held in December and the function was a thoroughly enjoyable one for all. Gener.vl.—The Annual Camp w^eek was spent at Hornsea and the children appreciated the change of venue. On 1st April, 1937, the accommodation in each Home was reduced from eleven beds to ten beds and the change has proved very beneficial.