Cheerful Alternative To The Streets
Many of Bradford's poorest children are being kept off the streets at night by members of St. Bede's Old Boys' Association, who give up their spare time to work at a city " play-centre."
This is held at the Feversham Street school, and the centre is so popular that many children have to be turned away. Here they can take part in all kinds of activities—painting, boxing, reading, acting, singing, etc.
" Discipline," Mr. P. G. Killeen, who supervises the centre, told our representative, " is very free, and there is no suggestion of ' school atmosphere'
at the centre. In the quieter sections, such as reading and draughts, in fact, the boys make their own rules, for anyone who disturbs the peace is threatened with expulsion.
More Workers Needed " Some of the boys and girls come creeping in just for the sake of the light and warmth, being quite content to sit on the warm pipes and watch the activities. It is pitiful to have to turn some away, and we need more workers badI
y."
Mr. Killeen, who has done a great deal of work for the youth of the city, particularly on the sporting side, is a former president of St. Bede's Old Boys' Association.