I don't know if this is common knowledge but I've just found this fascinating archive relating to the poor of Bethnal Green 1888 - 1892
http://www.bishopsgate.org.uk/conten...roffe-Journals
I struck lucky as the first one I looked at was my 2x gt grandfather and his family!
It records John Butcher applying for a Truss after an accident, a few days later it's recorded that John Butcher had thanked the Reverend for said Truss! Later entries show John's son asking for help to find work and John applying for assistance and being referred to other charities.
I know I was very fortunate to find someone in this relatively small source but it makes fascinating reading and I, for one, never appreciated how hard these Victorian inner city Curates worked.