CRIPPLED CHILDREN

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30540, 8 September 1964, Page 6

CRIPPLED CHILDREN

Care Service Extended The Crippled Children Society’s minding centre has extended its service to two mornings' each week, and the number of small children it looks after has increased from one to 12. From nexit week the centre will take care of seriously handicapped children on Tuesday mornings from 9.30 a.m. to 12.30 p.m., as well as on Thursdays for the same period. Five, women have volunteered to drive the children to and from the centre. The voluntary drivers had made the extended service possible, said the society’s secretary, Mrs M. L. Bernacehi. When the service began mothers brought the children to and from the centre, but that was timeconsuming and not all could provide their own. transport. Using taxis was little better, as someone was still needed to mind the children on the way. In a speech at a Y.W.C.A. world fellowship luncheon in July Mrs Bemacchi spoke of the need for ■ voluntary drivers, and the speech was reported in “The Press.” “The paper had hardly been out next day when people were ringing up,” she said. Previously there had been a waiting list for the centre. “We now seem to have been able to include all the children who really need this special service,” said Mrs Bernacchi. Two trained nurses are in attendance, one on each morning, and the centre is fully equipped with cots, play pens and toys. The children benefitted from mixing with others and were very happy. At the same time their mothers were given a weekly break, said Mrs Bernacchi.