?Maternity and child welfare Centre in Scarborough

It is surprising how developed some social services were in 1920. The Council of Social Welfare was featured in the Scarborough Mercury in January 1920. The true purpose of the centre was the protection of infant life. It was situated at the junction of Belle Vue Parade and Victoria Parade. It was opened in July 1918.

There was a new attitude to welfare. There was none of the atmosphere of "something for nothing". It was not a charitable organisation - it was provided through the rates and the Ministry of Health. Its purpose being the provision of advice to all those who need it in bringing up their children. It was not provided merely for the very poor.

Social welfare gained a great boost after the Boer war. The soldiers of low class families were in such poor health that it was considered essential. Health visits started in Scarborough in 1907. In 1909 the St Sepulchre Street Adult School and St James schoolroom centres were opened.

The Council of Social Welfare showed how the town was showing a progressive spirit towards the provision of maternity and child welfare. It was one of the first of its type to be set up in the country. A society formed many years previously was the Amicable Society which was "a pioneer in the matter of education for the poor".

On Tuesday and Thursday afternoons babies were examined and weighed by the Borough Medical Officer (Dr S Fix Linton). Special attention was given to delicate babies. Over 60 babies passed through the centre each week and meticulous records are kept for each child.

Around 400 babies were given personal visits by Nurse Dunhill. Records were kept of the sanitary conditions of the childrens houses and how the baby was fed during the first nine months of the childs life. Home helps would be provided for ailing mothers. The mothers would pay only 3d or 6d in the shilling of the cost according to their means. The home helps would even bring their own food.

Dried milk, cocoa, and other foods were supplied to mums at cost price to expectant mothers. Large quantities of these were supplied. Provision of dental treatment was also being considered for expectant mothers.

A sewing class was formed. This class was formed by voluntary organiser Mrs Harold Rowntree. This met every Tuesday to help provide children with clothing. Patterns were provided and help was given with cutting out. A forerunner of this was the sewing club formed in World War One which involved the making of childrens clothing as a war relief measure.

The greatest diffuculty was with illigitimate children. In nearly every case the mother had to earn her own living. The Nurse stated "The baby is not wanted. Because of her work she cannot nurse it herself and it has to be fed on artificial foods. Children fed on artificial foods require infinitely more care and watching to bring them up successfully than others do. Our difficulty is to find the best foster mothers for them."

Essential to social welfare is accurate records. Only then can you analyse the best procedures and make improvements. So the meticulous records that the Council of Social Welfare provided could help reveal the effectiveness any policies.

Source Scarborough Mercury, 23rd January, 1920.