A letter, dated 15th March 1973, from the Uganda Resettlement Board requesting addresses for Ugandan Asian families so that ‘life skills’ visits could be arranged by local voluntary groups. (T353/63)
Transcript
UGANDA RESETTLEMENT BOARD
Riverwalk House, Millbank, London, SW1P 4RS
Telephone 01-828-7848 ext
Our reference
Your reference
15 March 1973
Dear Sir,
The Board have been considering ways in which Uganda Asian families in the community can be given further help to settle down. The Board have consistently taken the view that these families should rely for the local support which is often needed on the established statutory and voluntary agencies in their locality, and the Board is grateful to those agencies in many areas which are providing help and assistance.
It has become increasingly apparent that, quite apart from the support that is being provided by the statutory services, there is another important need which seems to be more in the province of the voluntary organisations. This is the need for advice and assistance with the minor, but nevertheless important, mechanics of living in our community, such as shopping, local customs and regulations, the use of unfamiliar appliances, making acquaintances in the area and so on. The Board have, therefore, asked the Women’s Royal Voluntary Service and the Community Relations Commission to be good enough to arrange for visits to Uganda Asian families on their behalf, particularly in areas where families have settled in rather isolated groups. Such visits would not in any way be a substitute for the professional work of the Social Services and Social Work Departments, but would be a supportive service.
In order to be able to carry out such visits on behalf of the Board local officers of both organisations will need to be supplied with the names and addresses of families who have settled in your area. It would seem that this can best be done by giving them access to the information which has been forwarded to you by the Board of the destinations to which families have said they will be going. You may, therefore, be approached by the Women’s Royal Voluntary Service and Community Relations Councils for this information; the Board very much hope that you will be able to supply these particulars so that visits can be arranged to befriend new families.
Yours faithfully,
S Barraclough
Secretary to the Board
The Clerk of the Authority
Local Authorities in England, Wales and Scotland
General Managers of New Town Development Corporations
Secretary of the Commission for New Towns
Managers of the Commission for New Towns in Crawley, Hemel Hempstead, Hatfield, Welwyn Garden City.