ABSTRACT
As regards recognition by local authorities, our evidence shows that whereas some local education authorities (e.g., Gloucestershire) recognise that the Women's Institutes are covering a substantial part of the educational field as mapped out by the Education Act, 1944, and encourage this partnership by various means, others look on the range of the Women's Institutes' work as limited to practical subjects and fail to see that it is providing adult education of a high standard and acceptable form for a large section of the community. 15th July, 1947
7. WOMEN'S VOLUNTARY· SERVICES
... It is generally agreed that a new and valuable national service was established by W.V.S. during the war, and that a progressive modern technique was evolved for the handling of volunteers. Fundamental consideration must be given today first to the uses to which the organisation can be put during the next two years of difficult transition from conditions of war to peace, and secondly, on a longer term basis, to the part which the organisation can play in the new integration of voluntary services in statutory aid. W.V.S. has acted as a recruiting agency for women wishing to play a part in the national or community life, and directed many thousands of volunteers to other voluntary organisations and associations. Through the Advisory Council, which comprises representatives of all the main women's organisations, constant contact is maintained and programmes of work discussed and integrated and this achieves a twofold purpose of providing a forum where general discussion can take place, between all organisations taking part in any project or campaign, and of preventing overlapping in the carrying out of work throughout the country.
