Community Centres

Abstract

THE report on community centres recently prepared by the Ministry of Education (Pp. 40. London: H.M. Stationery Office. 9d. net) is a document of much importance. The Government has decided that the provision of such centres to promote the social and physical training and recreation of the community should be regarded as coming within the scope of the education service administered by local education authorities, such provision being covered by Section 53 of the Education Act, 1944, without prejudice to the power of other local education authorities under Section 4 of the Physical Training and Recreation Act, 1937, to provide centres for athletic, social or educational objects. Arising out of that decision, this report has been prepared at the instance of the Minister of Education by some of his officers, and is now published for general information. The first chapter of the report goes at once to the root of the matter. "During the present century, the day-to-day life of the British people has been profoundly affected by two parallel and closely related developments—the mechanisation of industry and a progressive reduction in working hours. The reduction in working hours may have been largely due to the growing demand for more leisure, but it was mechanisation which made it possible to meet the demand". That is the point of departure taken in bhis searching and comprehensive report; that, and another fact plain to be seen, that it is one thing bo have spare time and another to know how to use it wisely. Though the report does not expressly say so, it means that we have reached a position in which the twofold distinction between work and leisure should be replaced by a threefold distinction between (1) work, done for a living, whether one likes it or not, (2) relaxation, play, recreation, for the recovery of poise, and (3) true leisure, spent upon pursuits which may make it in one way or another "the growing time of the spirit". In subsequent chapters the report goes into detail about the organization, staffing, provision and maintenance, and ownership, control and management of community centres. A valuable appendix sets forth the suggested accommodation required for neighbourhood units in varying situations.