|
112 Shaw
Heath |
Walthew
House Reg Charity
No 215469 |
Walthew House
Walthew House is an independent local charity supporting people in
Stockport who are blind, visually impaired, Deaf or hard of hearing or
who have dual sensory loss.
The charity is named after John Walthew, who founded the charity in
1882.
On 7th July 2009 Walthew House and Stockport Centre for the Deaf merged
to become one charity under the name and registered charity number
(215469) of Wathew House.
Walthew
House Youth Club brings together young people with sensory
loss.
The photo shows members decorating cakes and socialising.
Services
Walthew House has provided voluntary services for people with a visual
impairment for many years. In 2008 the charity made a
commitment
to developing services for people who are Deaf or hard of
hearing. It aims to provide equality of voluntary services
for
all people with a sensory loss in Stockport.
Information Centre
There is a help desk
at
Walthew House which is open Monday to Friday 9am to 4pm.
Information is available on local and national services for people who
are blind, visually impaired, Deaf or hard of hearing or who have dual
sensory loss. Help is available with filling in forms, making
telephone calls etc. Staff with good signing skills are
available
mainly on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays. All paid staff
have
some signing skills.
A well stocked resource centre is open by appointment from 10am to 2.30pm on weekdays, staffed by trained volunteers who can demonstrate equipment and provide information. Appointments on Saturdays are available by special arrangement. The resource centre is run on a not-for-profit basis and stocks a wide range of equipment for people with a sensory loss.
Throughout the week a range of classes and activities for adults take place at Walthew House. These include craft, dance, social groups, Braille, hand bell ringing, Bridge, computer club, luncheon club and a steel band class. Social activities are suitable for most people and are run by friendly and enthusiastic volunteers. Currently these activities are mainly for people with a visual impairment, but we are actively recruiting volunteers with signing skills to help in these groups.
Social groups for Deaf people are on Thursdays from 10am and on Friday evenings from 7.30pm.
There is a social group for
people who are hard of
hearing every other Wednesday from 1pm to 3pm.
Visiting services
providing company
and practical support are available.
Volunteers with signing skills are available for people who are Deaf.
Walthew House runs a
weekly youth group
for young people with a sensory loss from 6pm to 7.30pm on Fridays, and
hosts additional sessions for young people organised by the Education
Service for the Sensory Impaired (ESSI).
A Rehabilitation Officer from Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council’s Sensory Loss Team holds a regular surgery where people with a visual impairment and their families can seek advice and help. Stockport Council’s Social Worker with Deaf People usually visits Walthew House on Thursdays.
A drop in clinic for hearing aid
users takes place on the first Tuesday of the month from
10am to 12 noon.
Downloading
documents
Some
documents you can download from this site need the Adobe document
reader. If you do not already have this on your computer, you can
obtain it by clicking here - it is free. 
A regular newsletter
is available in large print, Braille and on audio tape or
CD. An edited version of the newsletter is available in
British
Sign Language on DVD. Click to go to
latest
edition of the newsletter supplied.
Braille and audio transcription services are available.
Stockport Talking Newspaper
Association,
(registered
charity
number 507108) records the Stockport Express and
other local information weekly and distributes copies on CD or audio
tape free of charge. Their recording studio is available for
use
by other organisations.
Walthew House are agents for the British
Wireless
for
the Blind Fund who’s aim is to try and supply radio
and audio sets to all registered blind and partially sighted people who
are in need. For further information about buying or receiving a set on
free permanent loan please contact Walthew House.
The Stockport branches of
the Guide
Dogs for the Blind Association and the Macular Disease Society
meet regularly at Walthew House.
Top of page
Walthew
House
is
a building which serves the wider community and provides
affordable room hire for training, meetings and conferences.
A
preferential rate is available for any organisation working in the
field of sensory loss.
Supporting
Walthew House
Walthew House is supported almost entirely by donations and welcomes
your financial support or contribution as a volunteer.
Walthew House receives a small grant from Stockport Council, but is
otherwise dependent on donations from local people and
organisations. Donations can be made by credit or debit
cards;
cheques should be made payable to Walthew House. If you are a
tax
payer, please gift aid your donation.
Click here for a
gift aid form.
Over 80
volunteers
support Walthew House on a regular basis. We
welcome new ideas and would like to hear about the skills new
volunteers have to offer. Opportunities for volunteering
include:
* Staffing the help desk and resource centre at Walthew House
* Helping with existing classes and activities or ideas for new
activities
* Home support – visiting people to provide company and practical
support
* Help with fundraising
* Professional skills
We are very keen to hear from people with signing skills
Click here to see
the charity’s accounts for 2010.
Top of
Page
Contact Details
| Walthew House | |
| 112 Shaw Heath | |
| Stockport | |
| SK2 6QS | |
| Telephone | 0161 480 2612 |
| Fax | 0161 480 2612 |
| Confidential fax line | 0161 477 4441 |
| admin.walthewhouse@ntlbusiness.com | |
| Staff: | |
| Executive Manager | Kay Kelly |
| Office Manager | Rachel Cassells |
| Office Assisitant / British Sign Language interpreter | Teresa Wild |
| Deaf Centre Caretaker | Andrew Hallworth |
Directions to Walthew House
By Car
From
the
A6:
Turn
into
Greek
Street, which is just up the hill from the Town Hall.
At the T junction turn left through the lights and Walthew House is
just on the right.
There is a car park to the rear.
From
the
M60
motorway:
Exit at junction 1.
Take the 2nd exit at the roundabout.
Follow down towards the viaduct and at the roundabout take the third
exit onto King Street West.
Proceed up the hill.
Go straight on at the roundabout onto Shaw Heath
Go straight on at the traffic lights and Walthew House is on the right,
next door to ‘Harry Bates’ plumbers.
There is a car park to the rear.
By
bus:
Bus numbers 309, 313 and 374 stop directly outside Walthew House.
Opening Hours
Walthew House is open on weekdays between 9am and 4pm.
Appointments at the resource centre are available by special
arrangement.
|
Supporting People in Who are Blind, Visually
Impaired,
Deaf, Hard of Hearing or who have Dual Sensory Loss |