TIME AND TALENTS ASSOCIATION

INTRODUCTION

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

COUNCIL

ASSOCIATION COMMITTEE

SETTLEMENT MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE (known as WAR EMERGENCY COMMITTEE 1939-1943)

BERMONDSEY SETTLEMENT

187-189 Bermondsey Street

Bermondsey Group Minutes

MATFIELD COURT REST HOME (also known as BERMONDSEY REST HOME)

THATCHED COTTAGE COMMITTEE

DOCKHEAD

Dockhead Club House

Dockhead Building Fund

Riverside Review

ANNUAL REPORTS AND ACCOUNTS

PUBLICATIONS

Time and Talents News

The Review

Time and Talents Newsletter

Booklets and Leaflets

PUBLICITY MATERIAL

SCRAPBOOKS AND MEMORABILIA

Scrapbooks

Royal Visits

Memorabilia

• <corpname>Young Women's Christian Association, Time and and Talents Association,</corpname>
• <corpname>Young Women's Christian Association, Time and Talents, pre 1920</corpname>
• <corpname>Young Women's Christian Association, Guild of Helpers, pre 1920</corpname>
• <corpname>Young Women's Christian Association, Time and Talents Guild, post 1920</corpname>

Records deposited by the Organising Secretary of the Time and Talents Association in May 1976 (Ac 76.51 and 76.52).

'Time and Talents' was established in London in 1888 as a branch of the Young Women's Christian Association. It was run by young women of independent means, who directed their 'time and talents' towards working for those less fortunate than themselves. They established settlements, such as that in Bermondsey to provide a home-life for young factory girls, and clubs such as the Dockhead Club House which opened in 1931. Their activities eventually spread to areas outside of London with community centres in Harold Hill, Avely and South Ockendon. Branches were also established in places such as Scotland, Ireland, Gibraltar, Constantinople and Australia.

In 1920 'Time and Talents amalgamated with the 'Guild of Helpers', another Y.W.C.A. branch, and became the 'Time and Talents Guild'. During 1946, the 'Time and Talents Guild' became the 'Time and Talents Association'. By 1975, they are affiliated to the British Association of Settlements.

There appears to be a fluctuating system of internal administration until about 1950. The same personnel were instrumental in guiding administrative affairs but committee systems seem to shift and change for reasons that are not always readily apparent. (Copies of aim and constitution from circa 1950 can be found in A/TT/13). By the 1970s, the activities of the Time and Talents Association are in decline with the closure of out-county centres at Harold Hill and South Ockendon. This alters the structure of the organisation yet again.

This collection dates mainly from 1903 to the 1950s although it does include annual reports up to 1977. The records relate to the activities of the original London branch of Time and Talents. Reports from other branches can be found in issues of Time and Talents News (see A/TT/140-151).

The Review and the Time and Talents Newsletter were both suspended during the War and replaced by a printed newsletter from Nov 1939 (see A/TT/203-216).

Additional note: Since 1980, Time and Talents have been based at the Old Mortuary, St. Marychurch Street, Rotherhithe, where they run an active community centre. In 1989, a history of Time and Talents was published by the Time and Talents Association: By Peaceful Means - The Story of Time and Talents 1887-1987 by Marjorie Daunt. A copy of this book is held in the Greater London History Library, ref: 20.9 (TIM).