Seashell Trust
Seashell Trust is a national charity dedicated to providing a creative, happy and secure learning environment for children and young people who have a range of complex and severe neuro-disabilities. Their students, who come from all over the UK, are aged between 2 and 25 and many have little or no verbal communication abilities.
Seashell Trust aims to transform the lives of some of the most vulnerable children and young people in society by tailoring its specialist services to individual needs. At the heart of their ethos is the belief that by improving communication skills, their students will gain greater independence throughout their individual educational journey and beyond.
Founded in 1823 by two Manchester philanthropists, the charity is one of the oldest in the country to enjoy Her Majesty The Queen’s patronage. Formerly the Royal School for the Deaf, Queen Victoria bestowed royal patronage upon them during her Jubilee year in 1897. In 2008 the charity changed its name to Seashell Trust and now comprises Royal School Manchester and Royal College Manchester.
Seashell Trust has maintained strong connections with the Royal family and in recent years they have had the pleasure of welcoming several members of the Royal family to their site, notably Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
For more information visit: www.seashelltrust.org.uk
Registered Charity No. 1092655
Mark Geraghty, Chief Executive of Seashell Trust, said: “From the moment plans for The Patron’s Lunch were unveiled, Seashell Trust was very keen to show its support for our indefatigable Patron on the occasion of her 90th birthday. I am particularly delighted that a group of our students, their families and staff will be present at this magnificent celebration and I wish to express my personal gratitude to all those who have made this event accessible to our students.
Seashell Trust, much like our Patron, enjoys celebrating its longevity and rich heritage whilst continuing to embrace future opportunities. We share our Patron’s goal of serving wider societal needs and our army of dedicated volunteers and talented staff rise to that challenge on a daily basis. Having Her Majesty’s patronage is an inspiration to all at Seashell Trust and makes us feel, as we should, extra special.”
Lauren’s Story
Please Click the video link below to view Lauren’s Story
Lauren Mullarkey, the Artist in Residence for Seashell Trust, is an experienced Creative Practitioner and Art Educator, who has a passion for teaching art to students with complex needs.
Lauren is keen to develop collaborative working practice at Seashell Trust and says, “I’m lucky enough to work alongside some extremely innovative musicians in residence and a talented dance teacher. We are all full of ideas and dedicated to providing the best and most accessible cultural experiences for our students.”
Together they aim to further develop an integrated and innovative Creative Arts programme, for the further enjoyment and participation of Royal School Manchester students. Recently Lauren worked with Royal School Manchester students to create an embellished felt artwork to send to Her Majesty The Queen as a 90th birthday gift from all at Seashell Trust.
