Visitors Guide

By Car

Seashell Trust is located in Cheadle Hulme, Stockport, with easy access from the M60 and M56 motorways. Visitors travelling by car should follow signs for Cheadle Hulme and use the main entrance on Stanley Road, SK8 6RQ. Ample on-site parking is available for visitors, including designated accessible parking spaces.

Public Transport

Seashell Trust is located in Cheadle Hulme, Stockport, and is easily accessible by public transport. The nearest railway station is Cheadle Hulme, which is served by regular trains from Manchester Piccadilly, Stockport and surrounding areas. From the station, the campus is approximately a 15-minute walk or a short taxi ride away. Several local bus services also stop nearby, providing connections from Stockport, Manchester Airport, Bramhall and neighbouring towns. Visitors can plan their journey in advance using the Bee Network (TfGM) journey Planner.

Cycling

We also have the facilities for cycle parking and storage should you wish to travel to us by bike.

View the Site Map

Here’s what you need to know before visiting us at Seashell…

Appropriate clothing

We ask all visitors and facility users to wear clothing and footwear that is suitable for the activity and consistent with maintaining a safe, inclusive and family-friendly environment. Clothing and swimwear should provide appropriate coverage and not be excessively revealing, tight, short, or otherwise unsuitable for an educational and community setting. Shorts should be loose-fitting and knee-length.

Smoking and vaping

Seashell is a non-smoking site. If you wish to smoke or vape, please use our designated areas only.

CCTV

We use CCTV throughout our campus to help keep our students, staff, and visitors safe, and to support the police in deterring and detecting crime and protecting members of the public and private property. Private areas like toilets and changing rooms are never monitored.

Mobile phones and devices

We kindly ask that you don’t use mobile phones or other devices in areas where our students and residents might be, unless you’re leading an activity or there’s an emergency.

Visitors should always be vigilant and refrain from using mobile devices around children and young adults.

Video and Photography

To protect everyone’s privacy, dignity, and safety, please don’t take photos or videos of individuals on our site, e.g., service users, students, residents, customers, volunteers, or staff.

Any photography, filming or sharing of images that include them requires prior written consent from the organisation.

In the first instance, use the page on the website to enquire about obtaining written consent.

You’re welcome to take photos or videos of yourself, your group, and the facilities or activities you are participating in, but please make sure none of our students, residents, or staff are in these images (even if they are in the background or blurred out) before sharing them.

Please be aware that Seashell’s own photography, video, and audio recording may take place during events and activities on our site. If you do not wish to be included, please speak to a member of staff at the earliest opportunity, and we will make reasonable arrangements to respect your preference.

Animals on Site

From time to time, animals may be present on campus as part of Seashell-led educational, therapeutic and recreational activities.

To ensure the safety, wellbeing, and comfort of our students, residents and visitors, personal pets and other visitor-owned animals are not permitted on the Seashell campus.

However, assistance dogs accompanying a disabled person are welcome. We recognise that some visitors may rely on other support animals to manage their disability-related needs. Visitors wishing to bring an assistance dog or support animal are encouraged to inform their host in advance, where possible, so that any appropriate arrangements can be considered and support can be provided.

For the welfare and safety of all animals, they must not be left unattended in vehicles or other forms of transport while on campus.

What to do when arriving at Seashell…

When you arrive, you will be greeted at the main gate by the gate attendant. If there is no one at the gate, please use the intercom that will call through to reception. You can let them know your reason for visiting and who you are here to see, and they will show you where to park.

Please drive slowly, keeping to 5mph, and always give way to students and residents, and observe crossings when driving around the site. Only park in authorised bays to ensure wheelchair users and emergency services have clear access.

If you are entering the site on foot, please report to the gatehouse or use the intercom at the pedestrian gate on the left walkway.

General Visitors

When you arrive, come to our main reception to sign in. We’ll be there to greet you and help you get settled in for your visit.

We’ll collect your details and provide you with a visitor badge to wear during your visit. Please keep your badge visible at all times so we know you’re part of our Seashell community. We keep your information safe and store it securely, in accordance with all data protection guidelines.

Visitors attending classes or sessions

If you’re joining a class or session run by one of our hirers, you don’t need to come to reception. You can head straight to the event space, let the organiser know you’ve arrived, and they will sign you in.

To help us keep everyone safe and to protect the privacy and wellbeing of our students and residents, please go directly to your event space and avoid other areas of our campus.

Other visitors

Please sign in via the method specified in your welcome email.

Health and Safety

Seashell is both a place of learning and a home for some of our students with a range of needs. Please use the designated pathways and crossings and always give way to our students as they move around campus. If someone asks for extra space, please give it to them so everyone can feel comfortable and safe.

If you hear the fire alarm, please leave the building straight away using the nearest exit and go to the fire assembly point.

If there’s an emergency, call 999 first. Then let your host know so we can help emergency services access the site quickly.

We have trained staff who can provide First Aid and Immediate Life Support if needed. Your host can contact our team for help at any time.

If you have an emergency when visiting Seashell out of office hours (our office hours are 8:30am – 4:30pm, Mon-Fri), please contact one of the following:

Children’s Care Coordinator – 07879 7889453

Young Adults’ Care Coordinator – 07792 720623

Active On-call – 07469 148846 (Monday to Sunday 8:30am-4:30pm)

We ask everyone to take responsibility for their own health and safety, and to look out for others who might be affected by their actions.

Safe at Seashell

At Seashell, we are committed to making our campus a safe and welcoming place for everyone. We do not tolerate abusive or disrespectful behaviour, and we always encourage kindness, respect, and consideration for others.

If you have a safeguarding concern, please speak with your host or provide details by contacting info@seashelltrust.org.uk. In an emergency, call 07742 904949 to speak to a member of our Safeguarding Team.

If you have experienced or witnessed an incident

As our students have complex needs, there may be occasions when, while on site, you may experience or witness an incident.

While incidents are rare, we understand that situations like this can be upsetting, and we want you to know that we are here to support you.

Our staff are specially trained to focus on the safety and support of the disabled child or young adult involved. This means they may not be able to stop and talk at the time of the incident, but as an organisation, we are always here to help.

If you would like to talk to us about what you have experienced or witnessed, or if you have any concerns, please get in touch.