Last night (Thursday, 21st March 2024) Seashell and National Trust’s joint partnership won an award at the Marketing Cheshire Tourism Awards.

The accolade was in the Accessible and Inclusive Tourism Award category for the work Quarry Bank Mill has been doing with Seashell and it’s college students to improve accessibility at the much-loved site. It was awarded at the ceremony at Chester Cathedral, which was organised by Marketing Cheshire to recognise excellence and outstanding achievement in the region’s visitor economy.

Connections between Seashell’s Royal College Manchester and the National Trust are well established and many of our students have benefited from the relationship with recreational trips and work experience.

In return, our college has delivered Disability Awareness Training to all Quarry Bank Mill staff, helped improve signage and worked on accessibility developments – with students working as consultants for the National Trust staff.

We’re so proud that Seashell and the National Trust’s work has been recognised in this way. Well done to everyone who made this possible!

A caring Seashell student has been named as the High Sheriff of Greater Manchester’s young citizen of the year for his compassion towards his classmates during Covid-19.

13 year old Kevin Wright, a student at Seashell Royal School Manchester, was this week presented with the award for Young Citizen of the Year 2020, as part of the High Sheriff of Greater Manchester’s awards, in recognition of the contributions that young people make to society.

Kevin was singled out for the care he showed towards his fellow students after he returned to school following a period of six months of shielding. Kevin showed compassion, care and affection towards his classmates and in particular one student, who was struggling to cope with regular seizures. Kevin himself has overcome adversity having undergone major surgery complicated by extreme swelling.

Since his return from shielding he has gone out of his way to support his peers and the High Sheriff’s office has commended him for his attitude and hard work.

Kevin is a student at Seashell Royal School Manchester and a resident on site in one of the home-from-home houses that Seashell runs for children and young people. He was nominated for the award by his House Manager, Sarah Gibbs, and her colleague, Gemma Bentley, who were impressed with Kevin’s thoughtful behaviour towards others and the positive attitude he displayed throughout his surgery, lockdown, shielding and return to Seashell.

Speaking of the award, the High Sheriff of Greater Manchester, Dr Eamonn O’Neal DL, said: “I was delighted to make this Award to Kevin to recognise his selflessness, compassion and bravery. 

“Kevin has faced challenges with great courage and positivity and always finds a way to think of others. His tenacity and humility in adversity are also extremely impressive. Kevin is a great credit to his family and all at Seashell.

“I hope this High Sheriff Award goes some way to recognising his achievements.”

Seashell House Manager, Sarah Gibbs, commented: “Kevin has shown so much care and affection over the last year, he has been inspirational to everyone who works with him at Seashell.

“We submitted the award and two weeks later his certificate arrived in the post. We were over the moon! We presented it to Kevin and, as you can see from the photo, he was extremely happy and all smiles. We couldn’t be prouder.”