Steel beam signing event marks latest progress on Seashell’s transformation

One of the largest transformation projects of its kind in the UK took another leap forward this week as a steel beam signing event was held at Seashell.

Based in Cheadle Hulme, Stockport, the charity supports young people with the most complex disabilities in the country. It offers a specialist school, college and residential homes, as well as a range of health and support services.

As part of the transformation of its site, Seashell is raising £10 million for a new hub for Royal College Manchester, which will be known as The Ged Mason Building. On Wednesday, supporters, staff and students were given the opportunity to sign a steel beam and earn themselves a permanent place in the organisation’s history books.

With just £3.2 million left to raise, having already raised £6.8 million towards the build, The Ged Mason Building would not have been possible without the support of lead donor Ged Mason. There have also been notable donations from Together Money and the Mulchand Family, all of whom were in attendance to sign the beam.

Ged Mason (pictured above, signing the beam), a long-term supporter of Seashell and the CEO of Morson Group, said:

“I’m proud to be associated with this new college and the benefits it will have for the students.

“Our family have been supporters of Seashell for 20 years or more and when we first visited, we were just blown away by all the great work and the wonderful students.

“It was great to visit again and meet the students, who are all enthusiastic about this new building going up, which was nice to see. I can’t wait to see the students in the new college.”

As part of the Steel Beam Signing event, Director of Fundraising and Marketing at Seashell, Marie Travers, said a few words to the gathered crowd. She told them:

“Genuinely, without our supporters we wouldn’t be able to build this college, we wouldn’t have been able to build our school, the houses or many of the things that you see on site.

“We have big plans to create a centre of excellence for children and young adults with complex disabilities across the country, of which this college is a really really important part.”

Also in attendance on Wednesday were The High Sheriff of Greater Manchester Dr Eamonn O’Neil DL and Diane Hawkins, Lord Lieutenant of Greater Manchester. Mrs Hawkins said:

“I was here when the Duchess of Edinburgh visited earlier in the year cutting the grass sod. And here we are with all the steelwork already up. What a fantastic rate of progress! And I’m so excited to be back again, soon I hope, for the opening.”

It’s expected the staff and students will be able to move into the new building in early 2026. The recent event follows the completion of The Moulding Foundation Building, the home of Royal School Manchester, which opened in early 2023. Both buildings are part of the wider transformation project at Seashell’s site.

Eric Wright Construction Director, James Eager said:

“We are proud to be partnering with Seashell Trust to deliver their new college building, aligning with their vision of providing exceptional education and care for students with complex needs. This project reflects our shared commitment to creating inclusive, inspiring spaces that support every student’s development and future success.”