ENG-1995 — Page 221

180

SOCIAL WELFARE

mental patients (160 places); and respite service. Twelve home-based training teams for people with a disability and pre-school children and 22 social and recreational centres for all categories of people with a disability are also provided. Professional back-up from clinical psychologists, physiotherapists and occupational therapists is provided to these facilities and services.

The supported employment scheme continues to provide jobs for people with a disability. With additional provision of 300 places, there was a total of 360 places provided by 14 supported employment units. To identify further ways to promote employment opportunities for people with a disability, a Working Party on Training and Employment for People with Disabilities, set up under the chairmanship of the Director of Social Welfare, reported in July.

The Queen Elizabeth Foundation for the Mentally Handicapped, set up in 1988, aims to further the welfare, education and training of mentally handicapped persons and to promote their employment prospects. The management and use of the foundation's funds are determined by a council appointed by the Governor. During the year, the foundation allocated $10 million in the form of grants or sponsorship to 35 non-governmental organisations and four government departments, enabling them to undertake projects for the benefit of mentally handicapped persons. The fund stood at $127.9 million on March 31, 1995.

Community Chest

The Community Chest, which organises and co-ordinates fund-raising activities for its member agencies, aims to raise a total of $188 million in the 1995-96 campaign year, compared to $181.6 million in 1994-95.

Founded in 1968, the Chest is a non-government statutory body. It spreads the donations it collects from the community to 138 member welfare agencies, helping children and youth, the elderly, families in crisis, the handicapped, former drug addicts and ex-offenders who are in need.

The Chest's own costs are covered by endowment funds, interest income, com- mercial sponsorships and grants. This means, in effect, that every dollar given by the public is passed on without deduction to its member agencies.

Staff Training and Development

Pre-service qualifying social work training at degree and sub-degree levels and post- graduate specialised courses are provided for students and practising social workers by five local universities and one post-secondary college.

Social work and welfare staff of the Social Welfare Department and non- governmental organisations are also provided with in-service induction and staff development programmes through the department's Lady Trench Training Centre. During the year, 13 835 participants attended 360 courses or seminars organised by the training centre.

To learn specialised skills in professional practice and the latest developments in social services, 180 social welfare personnel undertook 42 advanced local and overseas courses or attachments, and 451 participated in 45 international conferences, with financial support or full sponsorship in 1995. The Social Work Training Fund and other training grants administered by the department assisted 459 social welfare