HOME FOR TIRED MOTHERS

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25244, 24 July 1947, Page 2

HOME FOR TIRED MOTHERS

WORK AT BRENTWOOD A recuperative home for the tired mother worn out by constant queueing, interrupted sleep due to air raids, and by problems of feeding and care of her children, was operated at Brentwood, Cheshire, in England, during the war. The Community Council of Lancashire received many such mothers and their children, and when this need cea&ed to exist they conceived the idea of the reception of “tired mothers” and the resultant “problem families.” The work soon came to the notice of the medical profession, and public health departments through their medical officers of health began sending the problem families which came under their administration, the fees being a charge on Public Health. Many of the cases, however, are sent by voluntary bodies, such as the Soldiers’, Sailors’, and Airmen’s Families’ Association, the British Legion, and others who can only afford part of the cost. Until a year ago Brentwood was heavily subsidised by grants from various New Zealand voluntary service funds and by the Lord Mayor of London’s Air Raid Distress Fund. Since these have ceased, the home is operated at a heavy annual loss. Lord Beveridge, in a recent broadcast talk to the nation on family rehabilitation, appealed for funds for the home, which is said to be unique in the work it has undertaken.