A history of SLOUGHSLOUGH COUNCILCOUNCIL FORFOR VOLUNTARYVOLUNTARY SERVICESERVICE Contents Foreword 3 The Beginnings 4 Slough Estates 5 During World War II 6 The Post War Years 7 1960’s 8 1970’s 9 1980’s 10 1990’s 11 The New Century 12 SCVS Over The Years 14 Members and Executive Committee 15 Celebration event sponsors 16 Photo credits F/C: Slough Council of Social Service Promotional Leaflet, 1933 - Image supplied by Slough Museum WRVS Distribution of Food Parcels, Christmas 1939 - © The Greville Organisation Limited. Image supplied by Slough Museum Slough Social Centre Cycling Club, 1930s- © The Greville Organisation Limited. Image supplied by Slough Museum Page 4: Slough Council of Social Service Promotional Leaflet, 1933 - Image supplied by Slough Museum Page 5: Slough Social Centre Cycling Club, 1930s - © The Greville Organisation Limited. Image supplied by Slough Museum Page 6: WRVS Distribution of Food Parcels, Christmas 1939 - © The Greville Organisation Limited. Image supplied by Slough Museum Page 6: VE Day Celebrations, Elmhurst Road, Langley - © The Greville Organisation Limited. Image supplied by Slough Museum Page 7: Poster for Slough Arts Festival, 1949 © Luffs Printers. Image supplied by Slough Museum Page 8: Slough Community Centre 1950’s - © The Greville Organisation Limited. Image supplied by Slough Museum Page 10 : Slough Skyline - - Image supplied by Slough Museum Other images: © Slough Council for Voluntary Service Written by Carmel O’Brien and designed by Lorna Allen Slough Council for Voluntary Service, 2012 2 Slough Council for Voluntary Service 75th Anniversary Celebration Foreword his is a memorable year for the Slough Council for Voluntary Service T(SCVS) as it celebrates its Diamond Jubilee. However there is no value in existing for 75 years nor in managing to survive on our past reputation. Slough is a vibrant and diverse town and has been ever changing and this is refl ected in the character of our community and voluntary groups. There always seems to be a new need to meet or an additional organisation with an idea for a project. SCVS fortunately shows no sign of fl agging but rather it is constantly renewing its energies and purpose. This booklet is a small record of some of the history of SCVS and it is dedicated to all the people of this organisation over the years whose success has contributed to the vibrancy of the town. GENERAL SECRETARY/ CHIEF EXECUTIVES 1937 – 1957 Alfred T Carr 1957 - 1962 J N M A Nicholls 1962 – 1966 William Israel 1966 – 1986 Norman Nicolson 1986 – 2004 Adrian F T Hailer 2004 – 2008 Jonathan Blackburn 2008 – to date Ramesh Kukar 3 Slough Council for Voluntary Service 75th Anniversary Celebration The Beginnings Slough Council of Social Service Promotional he establishment of the Trading Leafl et, 1933 TEstate in the 1920s drew the unemployed from distressed areas of Wales and Scotland and the North East by talk of work still be to found in the town during the Depression. There was little eff ort in Slough to combat unemployment or its eff ects. Initially two workers from Slough Borough Council decided to run a soup kitchen which was very successful. This went on for some two years improving all the time. In 1932 a relief fund was proposed. The Urban District Council worked on suggestions for forms of voluntary service and looked for ways of harnessing the voluntary sector to bring some form of relief to the ever In 1932 cash payments were made for increasing number of unemployed. the relief of hardship. Meat, groceries, milk and coal were As a result of the Prince of Wales’ call distributed according to circumstances to help the unemployed a Slough and clothing was sent to those most Social Service Council was set up on 25 in need thus the Slough Social Service November 1932. The rudiments of such Council was launched. A reading room an organisation had been taking place was also opened, free dental treatment gradually. off ered and an advisory service set up. It is worth noting that in its earliest Then as now funding proved diffi cult days the Slough Social Service Council and the organisation was forced to rely reached out to the people who were most in need and this is what SCVS on donations. In those troubled times does today via its support of the the Slough Council of Social Service voluntary and community sector in adopted a non-political stance which Slough. remains to this day. 4 Slough Council for Voluntary Service 75th Anniversary Celebration Slough Estates Slough Trading Estates lough Council for Voluntary Service has been fortunate in receiving generous Ssupport from industry in particular from the Mobbs family and the Slough Social Fund. Slough Estates who were always active in the community created the original Centre in the Farnham Road and set up the Slough Estates charity. Sir Noel Mobbs Chairman of Slough Estates became Chairman of Slough CVS for 9 years from 1937 to 1946. The Slough Council of Social Service was successful largely due to the creation of the Slough Social Centre – fi ve converted factory buildings devoted to community use. They provided basic health care, sports and social facilities to employees of companies on the Slough Estates. The outcome for the Slough Council of Social Service was its fi rst offi ce – free premises in the Slough Social Centre in 1937. The growth in housing matched that of employment and the Manor Park estate was built. For those people in employment things had vastly improved. This had an eff ect on social values and the work performed by voluntary organisations. The All Good Causes Fund was created with a professional social worker and this centralised voluntary giving activity in the Town. The Rotary Club of Slough was very important in the operation of the Slough Council of Social Service and did much good work. In addition the Slough Council of Social Service helped raised funds to purchase the land for Wexham Park Hospital. During the 1930s many voluntary organisations were created relating to social welfare, sport and recreation. There is no doubt that having a base at the Centre assisted in this respect. The Slough Council of Social Service helped provide knowledge and expertise and even more importantly a place to meet. We also provided starter grants and acted as intermediary between Slough Social Fund and the new organisations that were being created. Slough Social Centre Cycling Club, 1930s 5 Slough Council for Voluntary Service 75th Anniversary Celebration During World War II pivotal moment for the A Slough Council of Social Service came in 1938 when central government, aware of the development on the continent, wanted to set up a national information service for all its citizens. Where in Slough should it go? WRVS Distribution of Food Parcels, Christmas 1939 It was decided that the Slough Council of Social Service should host the DURING THE WAR YEARS Citizens Advice Bureau CHARITABLE (CAB). It was the founding of ACTIVITY IN THE TOWN INCLUDED the Citizen’s Advice Bureau in 1939 that provided information which led to the • Comfort parcels to overseas servicemen growth of further services. • Blood donor service set up As a result, specialist • Friendship extended to Canadian, American, Channel advisory services such as Island visitors and refugees Teenagers, Children, Widows and Marriage were developed. VE Day Celebrations, Elmhurst Road, Langley 6 Slough Council for Voluntary Service 75th Anniversary Celebration The Post War Years Slough Arts Poster for Slough Arts Festival, 1949 Festival was established during the 1940’s. The Festival celebrated the arts in Slough and included di erent sections including writing, photography, drama and music. he immediate post-war years Tbrought the arrival of the National Health Service plus a great deal of social legislation. By the late 40s and 50s the development of numerous youth clubs, meals-on-wheels were formed. SOME OF SLOUGH COUNCIL OF SOCIAL SERVICE ‘S ACTIVITY IN THE TOWN DURING THIS PERIOD • Instrumental in the national development of Marriage Guidance Establishment of non-contributory invalid pensions • Developed links with Slough’s Polish community • Appointed a social worker or immigrant youth • Organised sta transport for Wexham Park Hospital 7 Slough Council for Voluntary Service 75th Anniversary Celebration 1960’s he 1960s was a time of large In 1963-64 the Tnumbers of new-comers attracted by the town’s Slough Council for Social increasing prosperity. The Service undertook a survey of London County Council moved people to Britwell local attitudes towards immigrants. The and Langley and then result was a Report “Colour and Community” more overseas immigrants settled here. which practically became compulsory reading in some universities and led to Slough becoming Initially the Slough Council for Social Service provided Britain’s rst town to appoint a Community meeting places for Relations O cer. The Report also discussion, adopted immigrant leaders onto its in uenced the government’s decision committees and pushed for socially mixed housing aimed at to set up the Race Relations social harmony. Board. The contribution of Slough Social Fund since inception has been pivotal. It provided the offi ce in the Community Centre, paid for the equipment, administration and telephone. It also provided a grant of £500 per annum. By 1963 support was also received from Bucks County Council, Slough Borough Council, Eton Rural District Council and Eton Urban District Council. Slough Community Centre 8 Slough Council for Voluntary Service 75th Anniversary Celebration 1970’s he Slough Council for Social Service Tneeded a town centre location and the idea of running a day centre in William Street was discussed with Slough Borough Council with this objective in mind. Thus the major success of this period was the wide-ranging facilities for the disabled and the elderly.