News

Seashell Trust has secured funds to build a state of the art, fully accessible football facility that will open the game up to disabled and able-bodied children.

Located in Cheadle Hulme near Stockport, the new football pitch will benefit the disabled children and young people who live and study on site, as well as players at all levels across the region.

This exciting project will move Seashell Trust further towards its aspiration to be a national centre of excellence for inclusive sports. According to Sport England, disabled people are less than half as likely to take part in sport than non-disabled people, a situation the charity is committed to helping change.

The new facilities have pre-approved planning permission and will open in late 2017. They will include a full-size, all weather third generation (3G) artificial grass pitch, which can be split into two 9v9 and four 5v5 pitches, two changing rooms and ancillary facilities.

The project will go ahead thanks to a £500,000 grant from the Premier League and The FA Facilities Fund, together with £300,000 of match funding from PZ Cussons.

With a special school, specialist college and residential homes on the same site and links to disabled football teams, the new football hub will provide opportunities for many disabled children and adults to play football regularly. In addition, the facility will be open to the local community and main partner club, Cheadle and Gatley FC will use it for 30 of their teams.

Mark Geraghty, Chief Executive and Principal of Seashell Trust said: “This generous grant means that Seashell Trust can deliver first class sports facilities that are accessible to all, enhancing the daily lives of our young people as well as benefitting the wider community. It takes us great strides towards our aspiration to become a centre of excellence for inclusive sports.

“Our thanks go to the Premier League & The FA Facilities Fund, P Z Cussons and all those who have supported us in this project. We look forward to working with partners including Cheadle and Gatley FC, encouraging more people to get involved with football, whatever  their level of ability.”

This latest improvement in facilities at the school is part of a long-term improvement plan which includes a scheme to develop a new school and campus on the site. The application for a new school and campus has been submitted and is due to be determined later this year.

Find out more about the inclusive sports currently on offer at Seashell Trust.