Workshop Association’s Efforts For Handicapped

Press, Volume C, Issue 29510, 11 May 1961, Page 12

Workshop Association’s Efforts For Handicapped

The tag contribution which the Canterbury Sheltered Workshops Association is making by training handicapped children in various crafts, and making them selfsupporting is emphasised in a letter of appreciation from the parents of one child receiving instruction at the association’s premises.

*'We have very great pleasure in making another small donation towards the funds of the sheltered workshops,” says the parents’ letter, received at the annual meeting of the association. “We are thrilled that our daughter has learnt to do her cross-stitch so well, as she couldn’t seem to hold either her work or her needle before. She is a much happier girl also, and is improving greatly at home in that she is showing more initiative and self-reliance than formerly. “She goes off to 'work' (at the sheltered workshops) in the mornings with such a beaming face “Words cannot express what all of this means to us as. while our daughter was sitting about frustrated and deteriorating because of her handicap, we could not be happy or be thoroughly useful citizens either." the parents’ letter says. The secretary (Miss C. E Robinson) said the letter was characteristic of the appreciation shown by parents. The Mayor (Mr G. Manning) said the association's achievement in training five young persons-rthree boys and two girls—to a standard where they . had recently gained regular employment in various fields of work was an outstanding one. The association's work was invaluable in helping handicapped young persons to play their part in the community, and giving them the satisfac-

tion of being of “creative assistance to themselves and their families.” Mr Manning said.

He commended the “spirit” of the workshop staff, who were giving their time and skill in training young persons. He said the annual report gave a very good indication of the co-operation existing between the association and the Crippled Children Society, and of the assistance received from various individuals, business firms and other sections of the community.

The president (Mr E. R Clark) also, expressed the association’s thanks to civic authorities, business firms, and other organisations for their contributions to the work of training “handicapped young persons.

Referring to the financial report Mr Clark said the workshop was a “growing concern" and was practically maintaining itself. “We have been very buoyant so far but will have to realise that with the acquisition of our own premises we will be faced with electric power and other charges.” Mr Clark said. Unless the output of the workshop was increased, or there was an increase in gifts to the association, it could not expect to have such an excess of income over expenditure in the future. However, the association now had a sizeable “nest egg.” Officers elected were:—patron. the Mayor (Mr Manning); president, Mr E. R Clark: vice-presidents. Dr. W M. Platts. Messrs M. A. Connelly, H. O’Reilly, C. Cain. C. Cosgriff. J. S. Chisholm: secretary, Miss C. E. Robinson: treasurer. Mrs J. Wood; auditor. Mr J. J. Cuddon; committee. Miss G. H. Gainsford. Messrs A. B. Allen. D. Barrett, D. W. Lyall, E. Nettleton, R. Sarjeant