Organisations

Organisations of and for disabled people

Some of these organisations are organisations of disabled people – that is organisations run by and for disabled people. Other’s are staffed or run by non-disabled people offering a service or services for disabled people.
There is also a section of useful contacts found elsewhere in the Directory

Alzheimer's Society

The Alzheimer's Society is a national organisation which provides practical support and information for people with dementia and their carers.
There is a local group that holds regular meetings at Whitmore Reans Health Centre.
Local helpline: 07071 225615.

APHIST

APHIST is a self-help group of and for people who have experienced childhood sexual abuse.
You need to be referred by mental health services or other support services like your GP or Victim Support.
Comntact: (01902) 445628 for more information

Asian Women and Diabetes Group

Offers support and advice to Asian women living with diabetes. Culturally sensitive and appropriate information service.
Contact: Mona Contractor, 19 Gresham Chambers, 14 Lichfield Street, Wolvehampton WV1 1DG
Telephone: (01902) 711240
Fax: (01902) 711240

Autistic Society

Offers help and information on autism.
Phone 0121 450 7580

Beacon Centre for the blind

Facility for Blind and visually impaired people. Includes a day centre, sports activities for young disabled people, produces the Talking Newspaper  - an audio taped weekly news bulletin for blind people.
Contact: Beacon Centre for the Blind, Wolverhampton Road East, Wolverhampton, WV4 6AZ
Telephone: (01902) 880111/886795

Breathe Easy

Breathe Easy is a support group for people affected by lung disease. The Midlands group can be contacted at:
British lung Foundation, 4th floor, Nuffield House, Queen Elizabeth medical Centre, Edgbaston, B15 2TH Telephone: 0121 627 2260
Email: midlands@blf-uk.org
Or British lung foundation, Dudley branch, Tel 01384 244383

DAGLA (Disabled Advisory Group on Leisure Activities)

DAGLA is made up of disabled people and people with an interest in disability and leisure, who meet regularly with Council officers and Councillors to advise on disability access and leisure.
Contact: Barry Appleby c/o One Voice office, regent House, Bath Aenue, Wolverhampton WV1 4EG for more information.

Epilepsy action

Provides advice and information on all aspects of epilepsy.
Meet on last Wednesday of the month at 7.30pm, at The Maltings Day Centre, Herbert Street, Wolverhampton.
Contact: Michelle - (01902) 784176

Friends Challenging Arthritis

A self supporting group mainly for anyone who has some form of arthritis or their carers. Provides support and information.
Contact: Mary Allen or Ann Chell, Brickkiln Community Centre, Cherry Street, Wolverhampton, WV3 0QW
Telephone: (01902) 354369 or (01902) 653062

Fybromyalgia group

The Fybromayalgia group meet on the third Thursday of every month. The group is run by and for people who have fybromyalgia and their family/friends.
As well as general business, they have a speaker every month, on a wide range of topics including managing the condition, safety, benefits etc.
The Fybromayalgia group meet on the first Wednesday of every month at West Park Hospital.
For more information, contact John Telephone: (01902) 455557

Gateway Club

The four Gateway Clubs in the area provide leisure, recreational, social and educational opportunities for people with learning disabilities.
Contact: Ellie Randall, Gateway Development Project, 220 Waterloo Terrace, Newhampton Road East, Wolverhampton, WV1 4BA
Telephone: (01902) 571253            Fax: (01902) 571250

Lodge Drop-In Centre

Provides support and advice to sufferers of mental illness. Food served, trips and holidays organised, quizzes and other social activities.
Open daily except Saturdays and Mondays.
Contact: Carina Gibson, Merridale Lodge Drop-In, Jeffcock Road, Wolverhampton, WV3 7AA
Telephone: (01902) 717438

Mencap

Mencap is a national organisation that provides advice and help for people with a learning disability and their families.
Wolverhampton Mencap is a local offshoot that provides help and advice.
Phone: 01902 744969

One Voice

Run by and for disabled people, One Voice provides advice and information, representation, advocacy and counselling for disabled people.
One Voice also provides a consultancy service, research, representation and training on disability-related issues, for organisations and decision-makers.
We welcome disabled people to join us and volunteer with us
Contact: One Voice, Regent House, Bath Avenue, Wolverhampton, WV1 4EG
Telephone: (01902) 810016
mail@1voice.org.uk

Over 50s Advocacy Service

This scheme exists to provide information, support and representation to people over 50 years of age in the city of Wolverhampton. Advocates can help people to claim their rights and improve their quality of life. (Legal and financial matters cannot be dealt with).
Contact: Mr D Kennedy, Age Concern, Hupton House, 93/94 Darlington Street, Wolverhampton, WV1 4EX
Phone: (01902) 572067      

Tinnitus Self Help Group

This group for people with tinnitus meets the first Tuesday of each month at The Deaf Centre, 38 Rupert Street, Wolverhampton.
Contact: Carol Yapp, Tinnitus Self-Help Group, 177 Lichfield Road, New Invention, Willenhall, WV12 5BE
Telephone: (01902) 444418

Walsall Deaf Sports and Social Club

Meeting place for deaf people, friends and those learning BSL.
Fully Licensed Bar open from 7pm Monday – Saturday Sunday 12.00pm - 4.00pm 
BINGO
Every 2nd Friday 7pm - 10pm Every Monday 11.00am - 3.00pm 
Contact:  Fax  0870 705 8738 Text 01922 614795 SMS: 07745727001
Email: office@walslalldeaf.org.uk

Wednesfield Diabetes Support Group

This is a group for people with diabetes, it meets 10am to 12 on the third Saturday of each month at Long Knowle Community Centre, Woodend Road, Wednesfield.
Contact: Mr H W Hodson, 29 Shardlow Road, Wednesfield, Wolverhampton WV11 3AZ
Phone: (01902) 735193
Email: hughiehodson@btinternet.com

West Midlands Disability Arts Forum

WMDAF's main role is to support all disabled artists within the West Midlands region.  It aims to promote Disability Arts Festivals across the region, where disabled artists can showcase their work and the disability perspective of art and culture can be brought to a wider audience.
For further details contact the wmdaf office Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday only between 11am and 3pm.
Contact: Mary Farrell (Information Officer), West Midlands Disability Arts Forum, Unit 9, The Custard Factory, Gibb Street, Digbeth, Birmingham B9 4AA
Tel 0121 242 2248   Fax 0121 242 2268  Minicom 0121 242 2240
Email: info@wmdaf.org

Wolverhampton Centre For The Deaf

Provides social, educational and religious facilities are available for deaf and hard of hearing people. Also offers Sign Language classes, Lip Reading classes, Tinnitus Self-Help Groups, social and support groups.
Contact: Mary Palmer, c/o 38 Rupert Street, Wolverhampton, WV3 9NS

Wolverhampton Hard of Hearing Club

Provides a self-help group, social activities, support and companionship for people with hearing impairment. Meet every Monday evening 7 - 10pm and the fourth Monday afternoon in the month (speaker) 2 - 4pm at the Centre For the Deaf, 38 Rupert Street, Wolverhampton WV3 9NS.
Contact: Mrs J M Clarke, c/o 18 Manor House Park, Codsall, WV8 1ES
Phone: (01902) 840318
Text Phone: 01902 18002 840318

Wolverhampton Elder Asians with a Disability (WEAD)

WEAD is a group run by and for elder Asians with a disability.
There is a drop-in centre.
They are based at Unit 3, Imex Business Centre, 21 Temple St, Wolverhampton, WV2 4AN
Telephone (01902) 448552

Wolverhampton Rheumatology Support Group

This support group is set up and run by a voluntary committee whose aim is to provide help and support to people who have various forms of rheumatic disorder. Three telephone help-lines, and an 8 page monthly newsletter are all available. Also equipmentloan service, social events and education.
Contact: Mrs Dorothy Darby, 76 Dilloways Lane, Willenhall, WV13 3HJ
Phone: (01902) 654417
E-mail: dorothy.darby@blueyonder.co.uk

Wolverhampton Sickle Cell and Thalassaemia Group

The sickle cell and Thalassaemia group offer information advice and support to people with these conditions or their families. They run regular information sessions and work closely with the health authority and other partners.
Contact: sickle Cell and Thalassaemia support, Second floor Office
St. John's House, St. John's Square, Wolverhampton, WV2 4BH
(01902) 444 076
Website: sicklecellsociety.org

Your Voice

Advocacy service offering short term, issue based advocacy for people who have a learning disability and who are over 18.
Contact: Claire Finlow, 220 Waterloo Terrace, Newhampton Road, Whitmore Reans, Wolverhampton, WV1 4BA
Phone: (01902) 571240

Disability related newsgroups

Newsgroups are a part of the internet that allows people to “post” messages and reply to other people’s messages on a given subject.
Whatever topic you can think of, there is probably a newsgroup for it.
Some of the newsgroups are only to do with disability – below is a list of some of these, you can tell what they are about from the name.
You can read a newsgroup via your newsreader programme or via the “news” part of outlook express.
It offers the opportunity of speaking to and getting advice from other disabled people and interested parties.

alt.education.disabled
alt.support.disabledartists
uk.people.disability
uk.people.disability.bikers
uk.people.disability.transport
alt.disability.blind.social
uk.people.deaf

Useful Contacts

Age Concern

Gill Gogle
Hupton House
93/94 Darlington Street
Tel: (01902) 572060
Help, support and advice for the over 50’s.  Leaflets and public information.

Carer Support Team

Jodie Dutton
22 Queen Street
Tel: (01902) 553445
A team working with and for carers.

Disability Rights Commission

Fax: 08457 778 878
Post: DRC Helpline
FREEPOST MID02164
Stratford upon Avon
CV37 9BR

Jobcentre Plus

Chapel Court
Queen Street
Wolverhampton
United Kingdom
WV1 3AF
Telephone: (01902) 435300

Molineux House Jobcentre Plus
Molineux House
Temple Street
Wolverhampton
United Kingdom
WV2 4AU
Telephone: (01902) 482172
Textphone: (01902) 482007

Keep Able,

Cleveland Street
Tel: (01902) 711881
Provision of aids for disabled people.

Office for disability issues

Set up to provide a focus for disability issues across all Government Departments, and to promote change. The office oversees the Government’s 20 year strategy for disabled people.
Anne McGuire is the Minister for Disabled People.
http://www.officefordisability.gov.uk/

Ouch!

BBC’s disability website, includes news, views and the Ouch! Podcasts.
www.bbc.co.uk/ouch/

Shopmobility

Vel Finney
12 Cleveland Street
Tel: (01902) 556021
A Service for people who have mobility impairments. 
Loan of manual or electric wheelchairs and electric scooters to get around the city centre.

Tenant participation Team

Civic Centre, St Peter’s Square, Wolverhapmton WV1 1RB
Tel: (01902) 554743         Fax: (01902) 555823
Email: tenant.participation@wolverhamptonhomes.org.uk
For tenants of Wolverhampton Homes, the unit also runs a Disabled Tenants Action Group (DTAG). If you are a tenant and you are interested in joining DTAG, contact the team.
DTAG is consulted on policy and planning as well as advising on accessible fixtures and fittings.

Victim Support

Victoria House, (first floor), Mander Centre, Wolverhampton
Telephone: (01902) 572500

Wolverhampton City Primary Care Trust

Coniston House
Chapel Ash
(01902) 444876

Wolverhampton Network Consortium

2nd Floor
26A Snow Hill
Wolverhampton
(01902) 572055
Set up for and run by local people of Wolverhampton who administer government funding for local community needs.

Wolverhampton Voluntary Sector Council

Wolverhampton Voluntary Sector Council supports the voluntary sector, and has information on voluntary groups and organisations in the area.
As part of their support for the voluntary sector they have legal and financial advice, a meeting room available for hire, equipment hire, and Photocopying facilities.
Contact: 16 Temple Street, Wolverhampton, WV2 4AN
Telephone: (01902) 773761
Email: info@wolverhamptonvsc.org.uk