Each month we will be sharing stories about what has been happening here at Walthew House and detailing what we have coming up, both with our services to people living with a sight or hearing loss across Stockport and any fundraising activities. Anyone who is signed up to our mailing list, will receive a copy directly to their inbox on the last working day of each month.

Lord-Lieutenant visit to Walthew House

We were honoured to welcome The Lord-Lieutenant of Greater Manchester, Mrs Diane Hawkins, to Walthew House last week, for her first official visit in her new role. She was appointed on 4th July 2022 after serving as a Deputy Lieutenant since 2008 and as High Sheriff during 2021/22, and has agreed to continue the tradition to become President of Walthew House. Read more about her visit here, including an audio recording of her interview with Stockport Talking Newspaper and a BSL interpretation video.

Lifesaving first aid training for the young people at our Youth Club

A very big thank you to St John Ambulance for delivering first aid training for the children at our weekly Youth Club. Our staff supported the members of St.John Ambulance by providing British Sign Language and ensuring the session was accessible for the young people with hearing or sight loss. The children had hands-on experience of performing CPR on the dummies, as well as learning about basic first aid techniques.

Our weekly Youth Club provides a range of activities (both at Walthew House and out in the community) for children who are either deaf or living with a visual impairment. Contact our office for more details on 0161 480 2612.

Upcoming dates for training sessions

We have two courses taking place here next month, which would be of interest to anyone with sight or hearing loss, their family members, or professionals who work with people with sensory loss.

‘Making the most of your hearing’ – Monday 6th February, 9.30am-1.30pm

‘Making the most of what you can see’ – Monday 13th February, 9.30am – 1.30pm

We often find that attendees find it useful to come along to both sessions, and refreshments will be provided. There is a car park to the rear of the building. To find out more about these courses, please call us on 0161 480 2612.

Date for this year’s Walthew House Blind Bowling Cup announced!

It’s that time of year again… The Walthew House Cup is back for 2023! Teams from across Stockport will be testing their bowling skills, whilst raising vital funds to support our charity. To simulate the experience of being visually impaired or blind, team members will be provided with blindfolds or simulation glasses which replicate visual impairments such as glaucoma, cataracts and macular degeneration.

Our very own Walthew House visually impaired team will be there again to show us how it’s done! Find out more about how you get involved via this link.

How your shopping can help us raise much-needed funds

Do you shop at Tesco? If so, please look out for the blue token donation stations in stores across Stockport, as you can vote for our Youth Club to receive a grant of up to £1,500! To vote, you will need to make a purchase within store of any value, then you will receive one token per transaction to post into the voting station (usually located near the exit). Voting closes at the end of March.

Similarly if you shop at Co-op you can select Walthew House as your chosen charity, so that for every £1 you spend on selected Co-op branded products and services, 1p will go directly to us. You need to sign up to be a member by asking in store or visiting their website here. The campaign runs until the end of October.

Do you shop regularly online with retailers such as Amazon, Argos, eBay, Booking.com, and Dunelm? If so, you could be earning our charity rewards at no additional cost to you! Visit the easyfundraising website to find out more.

We hope you enjoyed reading our first monthly newsletter. If you have any ideas for information we could include in future issues, please get in touch with us. If you would like to be added to the mailing list, please contact us.

Walthew House is open between 9:00am and 4:00pm, Monday – Thursday (please note that staff are contactable Monday – Friday 9:00am – 4:00pm). Contact us on 0161 480 2612, email admin@walthewhouse.org.uk or visit our website at www.walthewhouse.org.uk

Best wishes from everyone at Walthew House