Stockport based charity, Seashell was proud to welcome the Minister for Children, Families and Wellbeing, David Johnston OBE MP together with the MP for Cheadle, Mary Robinson, to their campus on Wednesday (4 October 2023).
The Minister toured Seashell to discover how the charity transforms the lives of children and young adults with the most complex disabilities in the country.
During the visit he met staff from one of the residential houses, discovered the specialist facilities available and talked about the person-centred work to support students, and their families who have a residential placement at Seashell. The tour included a visit to the new Moulding Foundation Building, home to Seashell Royal School Manchester, where the Minister met with students and staff. The new building opened in February 2023 and provides the best facilities, equipment and outstanding specialist education and care for children and young adults to develop and progress to their full potential.
David also visited Seashell Royal College Manchester and learned about plans to develop a brand-new, fit-for-purpose facility for the charity’s young adult learners that matches the gold standard provided by the school. As a charity, Seashell relies on private and voluntary funding to support the development of its campus and a £10m fundraising appeal to finance the build is now underway.
Brandon Leigh, Seashell’s Chief Executive said: “David was keen to understand the circumstances faced by children and young adults with the most complex needs and their families and to learn how Seashell is best placed to provide crucial education and care thanks to the highly specialist expertise of our dedicated staff and through critical investment in our facilities and equipment.
“We discussed how Seashell is only one of a few charities that offers support to a small, but growing number of children and young adults with the most complex disabilities in the country. The services and facilities we provide and continue to develop are some of the best in the country, having been co-produced by those with lived experience – an approach which sits at the heart of all that we do. We shared how keen we are to ensure that the voice of our children, young adults and their families is heard in the development of the SEN agenda, particularly when considering those with the most complex needs.”
Brandon added: “We were delighted to welcome the Minister to Seashell, and we look forward to consolidating our relationship and continuing to share our expertise with those working with low incidence, highly complex needs.”
