Government Files

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  Child Welfare Society

  • Period: 13/10/47 - 29/12/51
  • Microfilm and File Reference: SWD 362-50

  
  

  Lady Guillemard started the Child Welfare Society in 1923 with a small local committee.
  
  By 1942, the Society was running 2 crèches on a non-profit basis at Victoria Street and New Market Road. In May 1946, the Society had to restart from scratch as all pre-war records had been lost .On 23 January 1948, the Chairman of the Society proposed to the Government that the Social Welfare Department (SWD) take over the two crèches because of its financial difficulties. Mr Eames Hughes, Secretary for Social Welfare, agreed .

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  Feeding of Children Between Ages 2 and 6 Children's Social Centres

  • Period: 13/9/46 - 13/5/53
  • Microfilm and File Reference: MSA 3439/ SWD 44-B Vol 3

  
  

  The Social Welfare Department (SWD), under Mr T P F McNiece (Secretary of Social Welfare), began the Feeding Scheme for children between 2 - 6 years old after the war. Children assessed to be suffering from nutritional deficiencies were given free meals under the scheme. Curious about the children's menu in the early stage of the Scheme ?
  
  Read about the newly-launched scheme here, in the words of T Eames Hughes, Deputy Secretary for Social Welfare .
  
  Voluntary workers were crucial in the running of the Feeding Centres from the start of their development as Children's Social Centres .
  
  Take a peek at the activities of the Children's Social Centres through the press clippings in the early 1950s .

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  Panel of Volunteer Workers Child Feeding Scheme

  • Period: 4/1/47 - 23/2/49
  • Microfilm and File Reference: MSA 3439/ SWD 44-E Vol 1

  
  

  Mr T P F McNiece, Secretary of Social Welfare, approached Lady Gimson to organise a panel of voluntary women workers in early January 1947 . The ladies were organised into 4 teams, each with a leader to run centres at Havelock Road, Prinsep Street and Maxwell Road, and one Mobile Centre. Further into the year, more volunteers came forward, and more teams were formed to meet the increasing number of feeding centres.
  
  By Oct 1947, there were 20 feeding centres supervised by 150 voluntary workers. Read more about the valuable work done by the voluntary workers in the feeding programme, and weekly activities at the children's clubs .

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  Liaison Committee Children's Social Centres

  • Period: 18/1/52 - 29/12/52
  • Microfilm and File Reference: BU 1165/ SWD 31-52

  
  

  VOLUNTARY WORKERS IN CHILDREN'S SOCIAL CENTRES
  
  Voluntary Workers played an important role in the success of the Children's Feeding Centres and Children's Social Centres. When the feeding scheme started in 1947, the Social Welfare Department (SWD) was unable to recruit the large number of staff required. Lady Gimson, wife of His Excellency the Governor, recruited and organised a group of voluntary workers for this purpose .
  
  Voluntary workers helped in the distribution of meals and general supervision of the children. They set up the Children's Centres Fund in 1947 through public subscription (donations), exhibitions and fundraising. The Voluntary Workers Committee controlled the Fund. Those trained in first aid and nursing treated children with minor ailments. They also referred families needing other assistance to relevant sections of the SWD. The voluntary workers and staff engaged children in occupational and educational activities, e.g. gardening, carpentry, rattan work and tailoring together with elementary instruction in English, Chinese, Mathematics, Geography and General Knowledge.
  
  What did the children get in the free meal ?
  
  Read the inspiring call for volunteers by Lady Gimson, President of the Liaison Committee .

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  Report on Children's Social Centres

  • Period: 24/9/49 - 26/1/54
  • Microfilm and File Reference: MSA 3487/ SWD 371-E

  
  

  In January 1947, the Department of Social Welfare opened the first two Children's Feeding Centres in Havelock Road and Joo Chiat to provide free meals to under-nourished children aged 2-6 years . In June 1947, the meals were extended to older children aged 7 - 14 years who attended the centres regularly. Feeding Centres became known as Children's Social Centres in 1948.
  
  While staff supplied and served the meals and registered the children, the voluntary workers taught children simple handiwork. Those with experience in nursing treated children with skin diseases and minor ailments. Children who required specialist attention were referred to hospitals for treatment .
  
  The occupational and semi-formal educational activities resulted in the tremendous improvements in the children's educational standards. Reports from doctors also showed that the children's health had improved considerably . Children who were unruly and undisciplined became well-behaved, polite and learnt habits of personal cleanliness and hygiene .

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  Development of Crèches

  • Period: 14/2/61 -21/4/71
  • Microfilm and File Reference: SWD 010-61 Vol 1

  
  

  Crèche policy and enrolment criteria were reviewed. In 1964, the upper age limit was raised from 5 to 6 years and in 1965, the upper limit for the combined monthly family income was raised from $300 to $400 to enable more families to use the crèches .

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  Children's Centres and Crèches Policy

  • Period: 2/10/64 -23/4/75
  • Microfilm and File Reference: SWD 012-64

  
  

  The income ceiling for crèche enrolment, which was set at $400 in 1965, was further raised to $500 in Jan 1968, and beyond $500 in Aug 1968 .
  
  The upper age limit of children was extended to 6+ years in Oct 1970 to allow them to remain until their enrolment in primary school .
  
  As early as March 1972, the Ministry of Social Affairs considered extending the operation hours of two centres from 5 to 7pm, on a pilot basis, to enable working mothers to pick up their children later. This extension of hours was piloted at Toa Payoh Crèche and Park Road Crèche .
  
  Letters from members of public and press article in Sin Chew Jit Poh dated 25 June 1973 , appealed for extension of crèche hours for working mothers of children in Toa Payoh Crèche.

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  Children's Centres and Crèches Policy

  • Period: 9/4/75 -29/7/75
  • Microfilm and File Reference: SWD 12-64 Vol 2

  
  

  Crèches were originally intended to help low-income families, and so fees were kept low. In the 1940s, daily fees were 10 cents a day or even waived in severe hardship cases.
  
  By the 1970s, there was increasing demand for crèche services for the middle class. Therefore, in 1975, a tiered fee structure was introduced so that while low income families could still find crèches affordable (50 cent or less per day), middle-income parents could also use crèche services .
  
  The Assistant Director (Crèche) was given the discretionary powers to reduce the rates for deserving cases .

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  Annual Report Social Welfare Department 1967

  • Period: 9/2/68 - 29/1/69
  • Microfilm and File Reference: BU 1336/ SWD 12-68

  
  

  Before 1959, the Social Welfare Department (SWD) had only two crèches. It took over four other crèches from the City Council in 1959. By 1964, four new crèches were added, bringing the total number to ten . These crèches were all situated in densely populated urban areas. A Medical Officer and nurse visited the crèches regularly to provide medical care to the children.
  
  What was a day at the crèche like ?
  
  What did the children eat ?