Shepherds Friendly Society £2,000 gift to Seashell Trust

A Cheadle mutual society has extended a friendly hand to neighbours Seashell Trust and donated over £2,000 to the charity which run the Royal School and College Manchester for students with profound disabilities and learning difficulties.

Shepherds Friendly Society has named over £1,100 for equipment in the new playground, the final part of the £10m housing development at the trust’s Cheadle Hulme campus, and £1,000 for a wildlife meadow, to encourage birds and butterflies, as well as bird boxes and hedgehog houses.

Wendy Bray, from Seashell Trust, said: “As increasing numbers of children and young people live with us permanently, the playground will be used at all times of the day.

“In addition, to children and young people attending our residential school and college, the houses will also offer valuable short-breaks for families from across the North West who are in crisis and need a few days of respite for their children.

Staff at the society raised the money through various fundraising lunches and activities throughout the year.

Ann-Marie O’Dea, CEO of Shepherds Friendly Society, said: “The work Seashell Trust does is incredibly important, and it’s great to know that the money we have raised will be used to provide the very best facilities for the students.

“We are delighted that we have been able to support Seashell Trust again and to have achieved this level of fundraising between us is fantastic.”

Wendy added: “We are so grateful for everything that Shepherds Friendly Society have done for us over the last year and how all the staff have engaged with our cause.

“Not only has their fundraising enabled our new wildlife garden and contributed to the playground, but teams of staff have given up their time to come and volunteer for us too. Thank you to all.”

Find out more about the Shepherds Friendly Society