Memorandum for the guidance of local committees desiring to assist the National Committee for the Care of Basque Children

              MEMORANDUM FOR THE GUIDANCE OF LOCAL COMMITTEES DESIRING TO ASSIST THE NATIONAL COMMITTEE FOR THE CARE OF BASQUE CHILDREN.
1. The Lord Mayor, Mayor or Chairman of your local authority might be approached with a view to calling a Town's meeting.
An alternative is for a group of representative citizens to approach all religious, political, industrial and social organisations in the locality for the purpose of forming a representative Committee.
Whatever method is adopted the resulting Committee could undertake the work of raising funds, selecting a suitable home and being generally responsible for the care and maintenance of the children.
2. A minimum of forty to fifty children per centre is desirable.
Where finance cannot be raised for this number the Committee can still go forward with the project, accepting responsibility for a number of the fifty children, making a request to the National Committee for assistance in regard to the remainder. Alternatively, if no suitable home is available in the district, the raising of funds can be undertaken in order to participate in a neighbouring scheme or to forward funds to the National Committee.
3. The reason for desiring a minimum group of forty to fifty children is to avoid a feeling of loneliness on the part of the children; simplifying repatriation when that is possible; preserving their Basque identity and permitting a teacher to be sent with the group in order that Basque education may be continued.
THE HOME.
4. A centre should provide:-
(a) adequate accommodation without over-crowding.
(b) adequate cooking, feeding and sanitary accommodation.
(c) space for organised games or informal recreation.
(d) room for educational work.
In all cases the National Committee must receive the certificate of the Local Medical Officer of Health that the premises are suitable for the number of children it is proposed to accommodate before sanction can be given for children to be sent.