Talbot House Blog

In 1976, when children with severe learning difficulties and complex needs were named “Mentally Handicapped”, a group of parents of these children came together to plan a play scheme during the summer holidays. At that time the Mothers in question did not know each other, however, their children attended the Leacroft Special School in Miles Platting and soon they all became friends.

 With the help of head teacher Mrs Cathcart and a worker from Manchester Community Services Margaret Evans, a small grant was given to them. The school provided meeting rooms to learn about the financial running of the scheme, and it was at these meetings that a rule was established- parents would attend with their own children.

This rule proved successful, parents met other parents and so began to share their experiences, good and bad, with no isolation. Consequently, confidence blossomed and so they set forth to find premises. So with the help of an Urban Aid Grant they found a premises, an old rectory on Great Ancoats Street which they named The Peter Pan Centre. Over time they went from strength to strength and their numbers grew.

After ten years the land was needed by the council so a new centre was on Monsall Street in Harpurhey. It was here that the name Talbot House was adopted. Once again new ideas were developed; training students from the NHS, social services education department’s parents becoming part of steering groups, partnership boards, commissioning teams and sharing up to date government policies (and even changing some!) To put it simply Talbot House became a one-stop-shop for the family’s needs. During this time lots of vandalism and burglaries happened here, but this did not deter the many hundreds of families who continued to keep the centre active. The centre provided pamper services, weekends away (courtesy of the secret millionaire Chris Brown!) PCP, training, keep fit, craft to name but a few.

After many years and still on the same grant, the building was in need of many repairs and with the new health and safety rules we were desperate for a new building… and here we are! With love and gratitude to our benefactor Mr Patrick Keely