The Early Days
The Great War
Between the Wars
Second World War
The Welfare State
And more recently
Interesting people
The Royal connection
In 1911 Friends of the Poor became a separate organisation and moved into part of its existing offices in Ebury Street. The general objectives were clear cut; self-help rather than temporary relief; work rather than the dole and considerable emphasis on thrift. An early volunteer commented, “the sights one saw in London certainly explained the need…. there were so many poor and so little was done for them.”
By 1914 the charity had already established 7 departments and were receiving over 28,000 letters a year. They established a Work Centre following The Coal and Dock Strikes of 1912, found employment for boys and girls and their mothers and sent convalescents away on holidays. A random list of grants at that time gives a picture of the work:
Mr D 4/- for a week’s rent
S 7/- fare to the country for harvesting
CM 10/-to stock a barrow
Sewing machine for a woman with 6 children to support
Set of false teeth purchased for an invalid girl.
A clergyman running a London Boy’s Club remarked: “helping these boys always seem to me like a game of Old Maid. We all try to pass on the difficult card to someone else - the Friends of the Poor excepted – they keep the problem and try to solve it.”
Despite many helpers going off to do other war work growth continued. Centres were opened in the poorest London districts to provide “Penny Dinners”. Many boys were helped to emigrate to Canada or Australia having been trained on English farms. Huge quantities of clothes were made for servicemen and others who had lost everything.
On top of this a new imperative was to assist disabled soldiers when they were discharged. The Disabled Soldier’s Aid Committee visited men in hospital and helped them to get work, back pay and pensions when they returned home. Limbless men were trained for switchboard work and an envelope –making industry was established, which was found very beneficial for men suffering from neurasthenia. By 1918 there were 11,371 disabled soldiers on the books.
The Annual report for 1918 appeals to supporters to “help us in our efforts towards the realisation of all our hopes – a healthier and happier England”.
Following the War the charity founded The Disabled Soldiers Embroidery Industry. Ernest Thesiger, the actor and a well known embroider, became Hon. Sec. Cross-Stitch! The work produced by extremely disabled men, often lying on their backs or lacking an arm or fingers, was remarkable and was sold very successfully. One altar frontal was designed for the Chapel at Buckingham Palace and another went to the liner “Queen Mary”. The Queen herself took a keen interest in the work and often visited those involved.
Another key focus was the needs of “poor gentlepeople”. There were many whose small pension was being absorbed by increased rent; professionals whose health prevented them working, widows of officers. One report remarks: “ the new poor do not lightly ask for help…..even without illness their condition is a daily tragedy”. The possibility of having to enter the Workhouse was a constant nightmare.
Part of the charity’s response was to open its first residential home. Completed and opened in 1926 The Marie Louise Club for Gentlewomen offered places for those with an annual income between £52 and £104 per year. A letter of the time expresses something of the values of the charity: “they help one in such a wonderful way that one’s little bit of self respect is not hurt and one feels that everything is given one in a spirit of love and great sympathy”.
The routine work of the charity continued despite bombs, black outs and disorganised transport. The War hit older people particularly hard, with fewer people able to help the poor and frail who were often left lonely and isolated. As a result case work increased vastly particularly in the London area devastated by bombing.
Remarkably the charity found the time and resources to continue to address the needs of poor gentlefolk for cheap accommodation. By 1945 they had four homes housing 145 ladies.
After the war the work of the charity came to focus increasingly on those who were frail and elderly. Many people believed that all need for voluntary help would disappear when the State took over. The charity was sure that there would always be those who “fell through the net” and planned accordingly.
The giving of grants and practical assistance continued unabated. But the major developments were in the provision of more homes for older people which increased to 15 by 1960. Many came as a result of generous gifts from benefactors, and were beautiful old houses with splendid gardens. The values of the charity again shone through. All homes were provided with pantries so that residents could remain as independent as possible and each had their own chapel, reflecting the importance of the spiritual dimension.
The charity was also early in recognising the increasing needs of older people who required nursing care. They responded by providing nursing wings and supporting older people in their own homes or in other nursing homes.
The present work of the charity, which changed to its current name in 1972, is focused still on helping those who are in most financial need through the continuing provision of welfare and grants and on those who need suitable accommodation and care as they become more frail.
In the 1990’s an important development was the establishment of direct services to support older people to remain living at home, whether by addressing their practical or emotional needs or their need for companionship. More recently the needs of those with dementia have become particularly evident and the charity has developed specialist services in this area.
Over the years partnership with other groups has always been important. In 2002 Friends of the Elderly launched Hanover Friends, a joint venture with Hanover Housing, to take over all the sheltered housing and care homes previously owned by Help the Aged. This was an important way of using the charity's expertise without major capital investment.
Over 100 years the charity has responded to the changing needs of people in the society of the time. Unfortunately the needs of older people remain very evident today and the charity remains committed to meeting those needs wherever we can.
As befits a charity against age discrimination in all its forms, the charity’s first two Secretary Generals, (today’s CEO) showed impressive longevity. One of the founders, Miss Collin remained in post until 1945, retiring at the age of 94. She died at the age of 105 in one of the charity’s homes. She was succeeded by Mrs, later Dame Dorothy Vaisey who retired at the age of 78 and died later the same year while addressing the Annual General Meeting as guest speaker. Both were remarkable personalities.
Throughout the charity’s history it has enjoyed the support and interest of the Royal family. This has ranged from distributing gifts on behalf of HM Queen Mary and later HM The Queen Mother, to the many events and homes visited over the years. HRH Princess Margaret was a very active President for many years and we are fortunate that HRH Princess Alexandra (pictured) has recently taken on that role. That seems particularly appropriate as her late husband, the Hon Angus Ogilvy was the Hon. Treasurer for some years.