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As many of you know, Walthew House is a local, volunteer-led charity supporting people in Stockport with sight and/or hearing loss. We were founded way back in 1882, and we pride ourselves on being here for anyone who has sight and/or hearing loss in our community.
At Walthew House, we continue to promote our “no wrong door” approach, ensuring that anyone affected by sensory loss can access a full range of support and information. This approach reflects our core values: Responsive, Effective, Supportive, Trusted (REST). This last year has been one of growth, celebration and deepened impact, and we have listed our key achievements overleaf.
Highlights – 2024/2025 Year in Review
Key Achievements
- 504 advice and information requests handled by our resource centre, 448 advocacy sessions delivered and, 2,769 social group connections made.
- Hundreds reached through awareness and training programmes.
- See Hear Exhibition in October was a huge success!
- Signature-accredited BSL Centre launched, delivering Level 1 and Level 2 courses and certificates awarded to our first cohort of BSL graduates, congratulations to the Class of 2025!
Community Events and Activities
- We have hosted Easter, Summer and Christmas fairs – bringing together service users, families and the wider community.
- Young people enjoyed an activity day at the Anderton Centre and are looking forward to our Signing Santa event on 6th December!
- We secured funding for our VI 1:1 befriending project and welcomed Nina to the team.
- We have delivered Eye2Eye group counselling programme.
Spotlights
We thought it would be nice to shine a light on some of the wonderful people at Walthew House. These spotlights feature short stories and reflections from members of our community, sharing their experiences and what Walthew House means to them.
First, we have Sue and Jean (pictured right), our wonderful Monday Resource Centre volunteers. Sue has been part of Walthew House for 18 years, and Jean for 11. Sue, who lives with glaucoma, says volunteering keeps her grounded and grateful for her independence, helping others has helped her too. Jean joined after losing her husband, looking for company, and soon discovered how much she enjoyed learning new things and meeting new people. Together, they bring experience, kindness, and plenty of laughs to the Resource Centre. Their message for anyone in Stockport living with sight or hearing loss? “Come and have a laugh!”
Peter, a long-standing service user, says Walthew House is more than just a place to visit, it’s a welcoming community full of laughter and support. He first came along years ago through the monthly Macular Group and quickly became more involved. Before joining, Peter recalls feeling a sense of isolation and disconnect. Walthew House gave him purpose, connection, and a community that truly understands. His advice for anyone in Stockport living with sight or hearing loss or thinking about getting in touch: “Just do it, don’t overthink it. Everyone here is friendly and helpful, and there’s nothing to be worried about.”
Ian has been part of the Walthew House community since he was 13 or 14 years old and is a committed member of the D/deaf community. Ian is the chairman of the Thursday deaf club, where he is focussing on increasing attendance and participation among D/deaf members. The club offers a variety of activities, including social chats, excursions, and other events that help members connect and engage. Ian is dedicated to supporting the D/deaf community, and he encourages people to get involved at Walthew House. He is dedicated to helping others discover the deaf culture, British Sign Language (BSL), and the strong sense of community that comes with it.
Rachael (pictured aobve) is the Chair of the Board of Trustees at Walthew House. As someone who is registered blind and lives in Stockport, she knows just how valuable it is to have a local, accessible service offering connection and support. “Walthew House means a lot to me as someone who is registered blind and lives in Stockport. I know there is a service that is easily accessible and a great way to connect with others also living with sight loss who live in the local area,” she says.
Rachael believes that Walthew House has something to offer everyone, no matter where they are on their journey with sight or hearing loss. “For anyone living with hearing or sight loss within Stockport, I would say that Walthew House is a great way for you to connect with others and a great place to get information, support, help and advice,” she explains. “Whether you are looking to interact socially with others or whether you are looking for advocacy or equipment, there is always help and advice on hand.”
She adds, “Depending on your journey, you can have as little or as much interaction with Walthew House as you like. It is a great charity which has been going many, many years, and a charity that I am privileged to be the Chair of the Board.”
A message from our CEO, Nik Noone
Reflecting on my first year as CEO, I’m proud to be part of a team so deeply committed to supporting our communities. Over the past twelve months, I’ve seen firsthand the dedication and talent that makes Walthew House special. I look forward to working together to build on this success and create an even greater impact.
We would like to thank all of our volunteers, trustees, staff, service users and supporters for your incredible support throughout the year. Your dedication and kindness make Walthew House a place of warmth, inclusion and hope. We wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year.
