112 Shaw Heath
Stockport  SK2 6QS
Tel/Fax 0161 480 2612
Email admin.walthewhouse@ntlbusiness.com

Walthew House

Reg Charity No 215469


Services

Newsletter

Room Hire

Supporting Us 

Contact Us


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.

Bert and Ann   June Demos Signing

Bert and Ann enjoy a Word Search                   June Demonstrates Sign Language


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.

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Social groups for Deaf people are on Thursdays from 10am and on Friday evenings from 7.30pm.

Visiting services providing company and practical support are available.
Volunteers with signing skills are available for people who are Deaf.

Walthew House is actively developing new volunteer led services for older Deaf people.

Walthew House works with the Educational Service for the Sensory Impaired (ESSI) to provide a youth group for children with a sensory loss.
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.

An Employment Advisor with Deaf People employed by Dering Ltd. is available at Walthew House one day a week.

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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.
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Room Hire

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 70 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 2008/9.

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Contact Details

Walthew House
112 Shaw Heath
Stockport
SK2 6QS
Telephone 0161 480 2612
Fax 0161 480 2612
Confidential fax line 0161 477 4441
Email admin.walthewhouse@ntlbusiness.com

Staff:
Executive Manager Kay Kelly
Office Manager Rachel Cassells
Office Assisitant / British Sign Language interpreter Teresa Wild
Development Manager (Services for Older Deaf People) Jacqueline Parker
Development Officer (Visiting Service for Deaf People)  Alison Parry
Deaf Centre Caretaker Andrew Hallworth

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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 Stockport

Who are Blind, Visually Impaired, Deaf, Hard of Hearing or who have Dual Sensory Loss