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The Spike or Victoria University College Review September 1924

Social Service Club

Social Service Club

An announcement was made in the last issue of the "Spike" regarding the formation at Victoria College of a Club styled the "Social Service Club." which would aim at rendering some form of personal assistance to those in the community who are in unfortunate circumstances, associating with this scheme of service a thoughtful investigation into the causes or distress.

The Club is now firmly established, and has already performed a large amount of valuable social service—service that has benefited not only the parties served, but also the students who have participated in the work.

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In addition to a number of individual cases of distress which have been assisted, the Club has initiated a comprehensive scheme of service at Porirua Mental Hospital. It was learned that at this Institution there were patients who for many years had led a very lonely existence, with no friends, without relatives, and without the estate which would enable them to purchase even the slightest luxury. Pursuant to an arrangement entered into with those in charge of the hospital, patients of this type have been selected, and the Club has undertaken to visit them regularly every week, providing them with a small supply of luxuries and maintaining a kindly interest in their welfare throughout the term of their life in the Institution.

This scheme has been very successfully operated, and since its Inception these patients have been visited every week by a party of students, and provided with luxuries in the way of fruit, confectionery, cigarettes, tobacco and literature. In this connection the Club is deeply indebted to the various wholesale firms who have made various gifts to the Society, and to a member of the Club, Mr. J. Dunn, who has provided motor-car transport almost every week.

Inaddition to this, three concert parties have been conveyed to the hospital for the benefit of all the inmates, and it is proposed to continue providing concert parties, probably every month.

In connection with the work at the hospital, the other side of the Club's objective has been kept in view by means of a series of addresses which have been commenced on the problem of Insanity, its cause and its treatment. The first of these was delivered by Doctor Jeffreys, and the second by a Mr. X., who desires to remain anonymous, but whose personal experience, as related to the meeting, threw much light on the problem with which members are dealing.

The Organiser is indebted to the District Nurse for particulars concerning a number of people in Wellington who are In necessitous circumstances, and members have been able to render some assistance in these cases.

It is intended, as the Club is built up, to initiate other forms of service. Attention will next be directed to work in the gaols and the Old People's Home. It is intended also, if not this year then early next year, to hold a special meeting for members at which the different experiences of those serving will be recounted and any opinions formed discussed.

Donations are needed to enable the Club to carry out this work, and while no special appeal has been made to students and ex-students, any donations forwarded to the Organiser. Mr. J. W. Davidson, will be of material assistance in enabling the scheme to be effectively operated.

The venture has all the boldness and idealism of youth. Members are being led to understand some of the problems which should be the subject of investigation in every real University, not only in an academic fashion, but also by means of personal contact; and understanding, perhaps some day in the future will be enabled to help in their solution, while at the same time, in some small way, students are leaving the world a little happier and a little better than they have found it.

These are worthy ideals—may all students give the Club their support.