Queens Cross Network

The network is home to;

• Disability in Action
• Vision support services
• Deaf support services

We offer a friendly, supportive environment that really feels like a home away from home. Many of the people who attend refer to us as their "extended family".

The Queens Cross Network is a supportive, safe environment to recharge, relax and meet new friends!

We are open from 8.15am to 4.45pm from Monday to Friday and you are welcome to attend on a full day, half day or drop in basis to suit your needs.

Visitors are welcome to pop into the centre for a look around at the facilities. We also have a Changing Places toilet and disabled access to the whole building.

Activities

We have a wide range of activities for everyone including:

• Arts and crafts
• Cookery
• Gardening clubs
• Home-building skills
• Indoor sports
• Relaxation sessions
• Themed days and evening events

All activities can be adapted to meet individual needs. Assistance with personal care can be provided sensitively and discreetly by trained members of staff.

Involvement with activities certainly isn't compulsory. The network centre can simply be a great place to meet up with friends for a chat and a coffee!

Events

The fun never stops - we regularly run evening and weekend events too! These include:

• party evenings
• bowling
• cinema outings
• restaurant and pub visits
• table top sales

Facilities

Onsite at Queens Cross Network we have: 

• A well equipped gym
• Library area
• Quiet room
• Gardens
• Computer suite
• Catering kitchens
• Café - run by Disability in Action - a great place to make friends and socialise!
• Resource room (Deaf service) - specialist information and display of assistive environmental technology
• Refreshments - meals, snacks, drinks to eat in or take away

Disability in Action is one of the borough’s most vibrant and active charities. It is run and managed by a dedicated, warm and friendly group of volunteers with disabilities. Their motto is: Support for disabled people by disabled people.

Our community outreach service provides a range of practical help, advice and support to people who have a disability or longer-term life-limiting health condition. We want to help you live independently, happily and successfully in your own home.

We can help you to:

• find paid employment or work experience
• develop independent living skills
• get out and about and travel independently
• get involved in sports or leisure activities
• further education or training

Dudley Council’s Vision Support Service works to help people across Dudley Borough who have significant sight loss – where glasses are unable to help them, where cataracts are a problem, or where they have a degenerative sight loss condition such as macular degeneration. 

The service offers lots of information, advice, support, as well as signposting to helpful organisations to anyone with sight loss, to make life easier, enabling anyone with sight loss to continue living independently and getting the best out of life.

Support might include help with getting out for people who are struggling to get out due to sight loss, or assistance with daily tasks at home, help reading letters or support to get into work.

A free assessment at home is on offer, where our specialists will look at how a person is managing, equipment that may help with things like cooking or reading, lighting, home adaptations and other helpful services for  things such as help getting out and about with confidence, or mobility aids. The service is here and keen to help anyone with sight loss stay independent and happy.

For more information call the Access team on 0300 555 0055.

You can also find out more about the service in the downloadable booklet below. For other information on vision support visit Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB).

Our deaf support service aims to enable hard of hearing, deaf and dual sensory impaired people to lead full and independent lives.

We can provide information and advice on:

• coping with hearing loss
• communication tips and sign-posting
• text relay
• drop-in service

As well as this we can complete your assessment of needs, either at the network centre or in your own home.

National charity Action for Hearing Loss is also a useful resource.

Further information is available to download:

We always welcome new volunteers.  If you would like to spend time helping and supporting others please contact us!

Dignity in Dudley is part of the National Dignity Campaign which is about putting dignity and respect at the heart of care services.

Alternatively you can call the Adults Front of House Service on 0300 555 0055

To use the services of the RNID Typetalk service use the contact details below:

RNID Typetalk Outreach Service

Email: helpline@rnid-typetalk.org.uk

Textphone: 18001 0800 500 888

Telephone: 0800 7311 888 (Help desk)

Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 8am to 8pm, Saturday and Sunday, 9am to 5pm