THE HIGHWAY CLUBS.
(To THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR."] Sin,—May we beg a short space in your valuable paper to solicit the help of your readers in the following matter? Those of us who have given up our time to work amongst boys and girls have viewed with profound distress the reports of the Home Office from time to time of the alarming increase in juvenile delin- quency due to war conditions. One of the many suggestions of the Home Office to remedy this evil is that such institutions as boys' and girls' clubs, Scout troops, &c., should as far as possible be kept going. Here in the heart of East London—Ratcliffe High- way—we have two large working lads' clubs known as Paddy's Goose and Broad Street Clubs. Owing to difficulties of accom- modating the large numbers seeking admission, we have been compelled to take other premises to house the overflow. The boys and girls are here in hundreds, but it is impossible to cope with them owing to lack of workers. We feel that there are amongst your readers many men and women who might be able to spare one evening a week and come along and help us, and we should be very glad to hear from any who might help. Our experience teaches us that the influence of one whom they esteem leads to a sense of self-respect, and surely there must be many men and women (for we have a girls' club also) who would gladly help. For the new branch of the work we urgently need a piano, gramo- phone, furniture of all kinds, sewing machine, and hockey sticks, and we should be grateful for any such gifts.—We are, Sir, &c., B. A. COWBELL, lion. Secretary. 291 Burdett Road, E. U. The Highway Clubs in East London.
Previous page
