| AdminHistory | The Dockland Settlements were founded by the playwright Sir Reginald Kennedy-Cox. The first was in Canning Town and the second (Dockland Settlement no. 2) was established on the Isle of Dogs in 1923. It occupied buildings erected in 1905 as the Welcome Institute the primary purpose of which had been to provide help for local factory girls. The first Warden of the settlement was Harold Kimberley (who held the post for twenty-seven years) and initially the Settlement's work was mainly concerned with the needs and welfare of the adult population. Subsequently work was extended to cover the whole age range from the very young to the very old.
Activities included outings, holidays and camps and a wide range of sporting and cultural activities including sailing and drama. Individual groups within the Settlement have included the Millwall Pigeon Racing Club, the 6th Poplar Scout Group, the 31st City of London Army Cadet Unit and the Isle of Dogs Sea Cadet Unit. The Settlement survived a threat of closure in the 1990s following a financial crisis and continues to provide a wide range of youth and community services for the residents and community of the Isle of Dogs.
The following text is from 'The Dockland Settlements Planning for the Future
', 1983 (a copy in reference: P/BSL/A/5/2/9):
"In 1895 Malvern College established a Mission in Canning Town to assist in the education, recreation and religious knowledge of working class and deprived boys in the area. Regular visits were made to the Malvern College Mission from pupils of the School including Reginald Kennedy-Cox. No doubt this experience of the under privileged from London's East End made its mark on this impressionable youngster which was to have substantial repercussions over the coming decades.
Upon leaving Malvern, Reginald Kennedy-Cox went to Hertford College, Oxford and subsequently became a fashionable playwright of his era with a large number of West End productions to his credit. It was whilst researching a play at the Old Bailey that he was so appalled by the brutality, poverty and ignorance that existed in the poorer districts of London that he relinquished his budding theatrical career to work full time at the mission.
Following service in the Hampshire Regiment throughout the First World War, he returned to the East End in 1918 and established his youth club named "Dockland". The club prospered and expanded and subsequently amalgamated with the Malvern College Mission. By 1929 the Settlement had developed to include a theatre, two staff homes and a 500 seat Church - the last mentioned being opened by Queen Mary.
The Settlement's success soon became well known; during the 1930's requests came from other Boroughs to start similar clubs in the Isle of Dogs, Bristol and Rotherhithe with trained stat opening each one. Reginald Kennedy-Cox was knighted in 1936 in recognition of his services. Two further centres at Poplar and Southampton were demolished during World War II but new centres were established at Stratford, Hainault and Glasgow.
In line with all charities, the history of the Dockland Settlements has not always been one of expansion and development. Periods of its life has been devoted to consolidation and on occasions, rationalisation to ensure a sound and viable basis from which to operate. An Adventure School in the West Highlands and a holiday home at Herne Bay have suffered as a consequence. In the last two decades resources have been invested in updating existing facilities initially with the Isle of Dogs and subsequently with Stratford. A new Stratford Centre was officially opened in 1973 by H.R.H. the Princess Margaret on land formerly owned by the Worshipful Company of Carpenters - a link which still remains. A Sports Hall was added in 1976 and a first floor area for the over 18's in 1979. A further extension comprising a purpose built judo-kwai and multi-gym has just been completed. Our Rotherhithe Centre too has witnessed dramatic changes in recent years. In 1982 the outdoor areas were substantially expanded and landscaped and plans for a major building programme are well advanced for 1984.
Colonel Sir Reginald Kennedy-Cox C.B.E., J.P. died in retirement at Salisbury in 1966 at the age of 84, unaware of the problems that would beset the late 1970's and the 1980's. Higher levels of unemployment particularly for school leavers, vandalism, reduced parental control, continuing low living standards and a lack of communication and understanding have all contributed to an ever demanding role for our existing settlements. Through concentrating our resources within the London Region, supported by an able Governing Body and Executive Committee, an efficient administrative unit and local Management Committees representative of the local community, we believe that we are able to look forward to meeting the challenge of the coming decade with confidence.
The Role of the Dockland Settlements in the 1980s:
Each centre's range of activities varies catering for the special needs of the specific community in which they serve, but their principal objectives are common.
-To provide facilities for recreation, mental, moral and cultural training without any distinction between age, sex, political, religious and racial background
-To offer a counselling service particularly to those who are suffering from unemployment, redundancy, divorce, hinancial hardship, disability, single parent families, poor housing and lack of companionship and direction.
-To improve the quality of life for the underprivileged and to assist their development as better citizens of the future.
The improvement of standards and behaviour patterns amongst the young is something more necessary today than it has ever been. Young people are ready and willing to meet the challenge of improvement if it is presented to them in the right manner. A relaxed, caring atmosphere where the young can talk about their problems to adults who obviously have an interest in them is often lacking both in the home and at school, and this is one of the Dockland's strongest assets.
Recreational activities have a part to play in attracting young people to the Centres, because if we do not attract them we are unable to fulfil our major role of counselling.
Our work, however, does not end with the young. It continues with their parents as adults and goes on to the vital work with old people. When good relationships are established with parents our young people benefit more than if they are taken in isolation, and when old people can meet with their friends in a place where they are made welcome and encouraged to seek aid with their problems it often becomes the focal point of their lives.
Our work does not have the emotive appeal of helping starving children or fighting diseases, but it is, nevertheless, a vital contribution in the shaping of many young lives and giving a little comfort to many lonely old people.
Serving London Our four London Centres are strategically placed to assist the communities they serve:
Isle of Dogs - Located adjacent to the West India Docks.
Hainault - Servicing the London overspill community.
Rotherhithe - Situated next to the old Surrey Docks, the area is now scheduled for total redevelopment.
Stratford - Providing much needed recreation and sporting facilities for the 65,000 youngsters who live in the area and for single parent families who account for over 30% of the family population." |
| CustodialHistory | The records which were deposited via the Island History Trust in 1997 consist mainly of photographic material, miscellaneous administrative records and ephemera. Some attempt to arrange the photographic material had been made prior to deposit and this arrangement has largely been maintained. The records were catalogued by Elizabeth Culver in July 2004. |