Students at Royal College Manchester welcomed local MP Tom Morrison to campus on 21 July to discuss the barriers disabled people continue to face when accessing public transport.
The visit came after Student Governor Representative and Student Ambassador Stevie wrote to Tom to highlight the challenges many disabled people experience when travelling independently by bus and train. Stevie’s letter called attention to issues including limited wheelchair spaces on buses, unreliable services, inaccessible pavements and crossings near the college, and accessibility concerns at Handforth Station.
MP Tom Morrison and his Office Manager, Mark Jones, were welcomed to Seashell by CEO Brandon Leigh, Director of Education Clare Sefton and Co-Principal of Royal College Manchester Katherine Watson. During the visit, they toured The Ged Mason Building and met with students Stevie, Kaitlin and Laneyle, who are all Student Ambassadors at Royal College Manchester.
The students spoke openly about their experiences and the impact that transport barriers can have on independence, confidence and participation in community life.
In her letter, Stevie explained that students can be left waiting long periods for buses due to limited service times and raised concerns about situations where wheelchair users are unable to board because the designated space is already occupied. She also shared Kaitlin’s experience at Handforth Station, where a lack of disability access resulted in her having to travel to another station that offered a lift, leaving her miles away from college.
The students asked Tom several important questions, including what plans are in place to improve public transport accessibility for wheelchair users, whether more wheelchair spaces could be provided on buses, and if there are plans to improve accessibility at Handforth Station and the roads surrounding the college.
The discussion provided an important opportunity for students to share their lived experiences directly with their local MP and to advocate for positive change on behalf of disabled people across the community.
Stevie said:
“Being independent and accessing our local community is important to us. We want the same opportunities as everyone else”
Brandon Leigh, CEO of Seashell Trust, said:
“Our students are powerful advocates for themselves and their peers. We are incredibly proud of Stevie, Kaitlin and Laneyle for speaking so confidently about the barriers they encounter and for helping decision-makers better understand the importance of accessible and reliable public transport.”
Following the student meeting, Tom continued his tour of The Ged Mason Building and heard more about Seashell’s future plans and ongoing commitment to supporting disabled young people with the most complex needs.
