MANCHESTER INTERNATIONAL 

WOMEN’S FESTIVAL 2019

Bernie Wood: Manager - Talbot House Support Centre

Forty Years ago Bernie gave birth to a wonderful baby boy, Geoffrey. Unlike his brother, Denis and three sisters, Colette, Sara and Louise,  no one said “congratulations” I later found  why, they were all so sad because Geoffrey had Down Syndrome and they all thought his life and Bernie’s  would be different from the ”norm”. Bernie founded a parent support service (The Peter Pan Centre). Forty years on, Bernie manages that same service, now named Talbot House. Talbot House is a user led charity run by parents, for parents of children and adults who have severe learning disabilities. Bernie says, “We are amazing and unique.  Parents arrive at our centre shivering masses of humanity, lonely, and frustrated and they leave like Sun Flowers with all their problems shared and 99% solved. There is life after disability and I am living proof. I am now 80 years of age still working still caring still loving life.” Their motto is “Get Mam and Dad’s head ok and the kids will be ok”.

Join us on our Walk For Women and help us celebrate International Women's Day 2019

Come and join in the Celebrations. Manchester has a history of some strong women you probably know a few. We are having a walk to show the world how great Manchester and its women are. 

Starting outside Central Library on Saturday 2 March at 1.30pm our Walk for Women will make its way to Castlefield Bowl where we'll continue our celebrations with music, dancing and poetry. You don’t have to be a woman but you have to support this. We will have all shapes and sizes colours and creeds, we’ll be dancing signing in the streets so come and join in.

Click here to register

WE ARE #STRONGMCRWOMEN