Our locations
Walton Lea Partnership
Walton Lea Partnership is a busy place! We provide work experience and learning for people with learning difficulties in a beautiful Victorian walled garden near Warrington.
“At the Walton Lea Partnership we aim to improve the self-esteem and status of adults with learning difficulties and helping them to play a full part in the local community”.
We have a small shop that is open for the sale of our own home grown produce, plants, woodwork, and crafts.
There is a display of up-cycled furniture and woodwork with the garden in mind – garden furniture, wooden art, bird feeders, bug boxes and bird boxes.
Horticulture
Working closely with Warrington Borough Council, The Walton Estate and partners we help maintain the estate and take on projects such as planting beds around the gardens. Plants nurtured from seed and other aspects of their social enterprise will be available on site.
Environment
Learners are made aware of the different habitats, focusing around the Walton Hall and Walton Lea sites showing learners how each habitat attracts different flora and fauna and what elements have a positive or negative affect on each and how to manage.
Animal Husbandry
Our learners will be shown how to care for the animals at the Walton Hall Gardens and the other roles involved in maintaining a small zoo. They will learn basic skills and knowledge.
Walton Lea Partnership
at Walton Hall
The Walton Lea Partnership now offer supported learning in the new centre at Walton Hall Gardens based in the historic conservatory, the vinery area and classrooms used in the Shippon area (that were once occupied by Lady Daresbury’s prized Kerry cattle) to deliver learning, support and work across the whole of Walton Hall and Gardens.
Every aspect of the care process learned with the guidance of expert rangers teaches them important skills.
Sponsors
Thank you to our wonderful sponsors.
We are incredibly grateful for your support.
Our history
We started in 1998 with seven learners at the walled garden, (three of whom still attend to this day), and now welcome more than 60 adults and young people every week across our two vibrant locations.
Our why
OUR MISSION
To provide practical, compassionate and transformative support through efficient, effective and empathetic service provision in a safe, uplifting and nurturing learning environment.
OUR VISION
An inclusive world where people with learning disabilities and associated conditions are valued equally, have opportunity, dignity, respect, choice, understanding and support to lead fulfilled, happy and healthy lives.
Our Motto Is
Never Give Up!
No Barriers
Live Your Dreams
Our Aims
Improve the futures of learning-disabled people and those with associated conditions, by providing access to the appropriate person-centred information, learning services, equipment, therapies and treatment they need.
Empower learning-disabled people and those with associated conditions, their family/carers to make informed life choices, express their views and exercise choice in selecting provision, support activities and treatments.
Increase awareness and understanding of the needs of learning-disabled people and those with associated conditions, of all ages, across the region and the UK and defend their rights in the community.
Engage with local and national government to inform emerging legislation and provision and influence the shape and availability of social and health care, housing and education.
Enable people with learning disabilities and associated conditions to lead active and independent lives to their full potential.
Enable people with learning disabilities and associated conditions to lead ordinary lives free of barriers and prejudice.
Become a recognised centre of excellence for the support and development of people with learning disabilities and associated conditions.
Improve the futures of learning-disabled people and those with associated conditions, by providing access to the appropriate person-centred information, learning services, equipment, therapies and treatment they need.
Empower learning-disabled people and those with associated conditions, their family/carers to make informed life choices, express their views and exercise choice in selecting provision, support activities and treatments.
Increase awareness and understanding of the needs of learning-disabled people and those with associated conditions, of all ages, across the region and the UK and defend their rights in the community.
Engage with local and national government to inform emerging legislation and provision and influence the shape and availability of social and health care, housing and education.
Enable people with learning disabilities and associated conditions to lead active and independent lives to their full potential.
Enable people with learning disabilities and associated conditions to lead ordinary lives free of barriers and prejudice.
Become a recognised centre of excellence for the support and development of people with learning disabilities and associated conditions.
Meet the team
our staff
I have three grown-up children and four grandchildren and you may have seen me walking my beagle, Bertie up to Walton Lea. He loves to visit as the Learners make such a fuss of him. I have been a primary school teacher in Warrington for many years and retired from that in 2016 to enter local politics.
I am currently Chair of Walton Parish Council and we have established an excellent working relationship between the Parish Council and Walton Lea.
The Parish Council has bought two defibrillators which are soon to be installed in Higher and Lower Walton. The Learners at Walton Lea are very much part of this project as they have received training on important maintenance checks. They will be out and about ensuring that both defibrillators are in good working order.
This project has been part of a learning scheme which has enhanced the Learner’s First Aid knowledge and awareness. Whenever I go up to Walton Lea and chat with the Learners and the amazing support workers and staff, I come away feeling blessed to be part of something so wonderful.
I have worked and volunteered in many community and hospital settings with adults and children with a wide range of additional needs over the years, but none have been as unique and heart-warming as it is at Walton Lea. I also was the Team Leader for Cheshire Search & Rescue Team for 10 years and achieved the Chief Constables Award for outstanding contributions to the community.
I was responsible for the Health, Safety & Welfare for 75 volunteers and was a Search Manager for 9 of those years, coordinating over 120 individual searches for missing persons. I had a few years away from the Health & Social Care sector and was a Community Development Manager for a large company, before I became an Internal Quality Assurer (IQA) & Accreditation Review Lead for a local Trauma company.
Away from work, I enjoy canoeing, rock climbing, hill walking, meeting up with friends for days out and making special family memories.
Since joining Walton Lea, I have been made very welcome by the Board of Trustees, staff and of course the wonderful learners we have here. It is a lovely location to work in and completely different to the usual office block in city centres that I have previously been working in.
Prior to joining Walton Lea, I worked at a recruitment company as the Senior Company Accountant. My working background has been mostly in the recruitment sector, working in the Finance team and then as a PA for one of the Senior Managing Directors.
I live with my two sons, two mini dachshunds and two cats. Outside of work I enjoy yoga and I also volunteer at a local Horse Sanctuary on a Sunday helping to look after the Horses and help there on event days.
At home I am very lucky to have an amazing wife, three children and a tiny Maltipoo, they keep me grounded and remind me what is truly important. I also play as much golf as possible and enjoy calming green spaces.
Trustees
Mike Cozens
Chair of the board of trustees
A seasoned and successful entrepreneur and business owner Mike has substantial experience of working in senior leadership roles in both private and public sector organisations.
He is highly skilled in strategic business development, business improvement and change management and places great importance on creating a workplace culture in which employees are empowered and encouraged to achieve both personal and business success.
He has been a WLP Board member for over six years and has overseen substantial improvements in service delivery, brand reputation and growth in learner numbers. Mike has, over many years, given significant personal time and philanthropic support to a wide variety of Charities.
He has served as vice chair on the Boards of both ADSIS and the Early Years Childcare and Development in Staffordshire and has also served as business mentor and advisor to the Wedgwood Museum Trustee Board and to the Chambers of Commerce.
In addition to his role with the Walton Lea Partnership Mike is also the Chair of Trustees for the WeeeCharity Inc in Warrington.
Trish Chapman
Trustee
Hi I am Trish Chapman and I recently joined WLP as a Trustee with responsibility for Parent and Carers. Previously I have been a Foster Carer for 15 years to around 30 children.
I worked at Green Lane special school for 8 years as an admin assistant before retiring on ill health due to Rheumatoid Arthritis. I was a governor at Green lane for 22 years and am now a governor at Fox wood special school for the past 5 years and am currently chair of governors.
I have been married to Peter for almost 40 years and have 3 children. Laura who is married and has a boy 14 and a girl 11. Thomas is married and has 2 girls 3 and 6 months and last but definitely not least is Betty who attends WLP and loves every minute of her time there.
Caroline Jones
Trustee
I am Sarah Oliver and have recently joined the Board of Trustees. I am a retired police officer, having served for 31 years – I spent the majority of my career working in the field of safeguarding, concluding my career as a Senior Investigating Officer for homicide and major crime.
I now work part-time for the University of Chester supporting students. Although originally from Leicester I have lived in Warrington for over 25 years where I have been involved in several local charities, including Warrington Youth Orchestra.
I am also now a business partner at Mamars Artisan Bakery and Licensed Delicatessen which operates with a philanthropic approach to local groups and communities.
I hope that my experience and skills, combined with my commitment to the area can now help Walton Lea Partnership as it goes forward.
Samra Shah
Trustee
After studying Bass Guitar at a prestigious music school in Surrey, my first attempt at a career was to try and become a Rock God! When this failed, I fell back on my talents for technology and computers to build a career in IT. Firstly a Web Developer and then a Cloud Solutions Architect specialising in the Microsoft Cloud Stack. Over the course of my career, I have delivered major IT projects for household names including Tesco’s PLC, Jet2 Holidays and Sumo Digital, creators of the popular Forza series of video games.
I first became aware of the Walton Lea Partnership when I visited the stand at Disability Awareness Day 2019. I was subsequently approached by the charity about providing social media and IT training to senior staff and when that was completed, I was then asked to join the board of Trustees.
In my free time I am very active with my church in our outreach to local community organisations and charities. I also sing tenor in my local community choir with whom I perform regularly. I feel very privileged to be able to contribute to the work done at Walton Lea and look forward to to continuing do so in the future.
Vacancies
Join our supported learning family at Walton Lea Walled Garden or Walton Hall Gardens. You’ll find details of all current vacancies on our LinkedIn page.
Governance
Find key policies and procedures here.
