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Mrs. Townsend and Mrs. Mena Begum with some of the many children who attend the playgroup.
The fate of the multi-racial playgroup at Burnley Lane Baptist Church still hangs in the balance, after a meeting of Lancashire County Council’s Social Services Department resulted in hope, if not finance. The playgroup is run by the Jinnah Advisory Centre and Coun. Rafique Malik, the director of the centre, said after the meeting that the County Director of Social Services had said they would try and find a way to keep the group open. Last year the Government approved an application for 75% of the running costs, but the Council has to find the rest. Coun. Malik said “If the playgroup was not essential, the Government would not have approved it. Stoneyholme and Daneshouse have large numbers of children who do not speak English, and many at the group are from one parent families. The area is a housing action area and has more than its share of problems.” For six months the costs have been met out of donations and voluntary work, and the dedication of staff members Mrs. Jill Townsend and Mrs. Margaret Baillie, both working for less than half pay. Some of the Asian women whose children attend the group are able to attend English lessons during the day. Mrs. Townsend said the mothers had been super, and the playgroup had been instrumental in bringing women out of their homes. (The article by Winifred Bose’s on the Women’s Page, then describes at length the social benefits of this and all playgroups).