Stockport County backs local sensory loss charity

Local sensory loss charity Walthew House were invited to attend the opening game of the football season at Edgeley Park to help raise much-needs funds.

The 140-year-old charity is based in Shaw Heath, close to County’s home ground. A group of volunteers managed to collect £453.21 in their buckets and via hand-held card machines thanks to the generous donations of Stockport County supports at the club’s first game of the season.

Funds raised will be used to support people across Stockport living with sight and/or hearing loss, offering services including social and sports groups, a Youth Club, sight loss counselling, and an information service at Stepping Hill Hospital.

The football club’s Community Trust then brought the National League trophy to the weekly social group at Walthew House the following Monday, so that the visually impaired service users and volunteers could take turns handling the trophy.

Sarah Mollitt, Funding and Income Generation Manager, said:

“We were over the moon to welcome the trophy to our charity headquarters, giving our blind and low vision service users a wonderful tactile experience.  Many of the Walthew House attendees are County fans, and this visit helped to ease the disappointment of losing the opening game of the season this weekend!”

Pictured: (Left) Volunteers Sinead Reale and Laura Whitaker, with guide dog Jasmine, at the opening game of the season. (Right) Service user Ben Harland holding the National League trophy.