Employment Services
Seashell Trust is committed to supporting young people to achieve positive outcomes from their time at the Trust. For some of our students this includes progression into supported employment.
Royal College Manchester has progressive and inclusive work experience programmes in place. Some companies are long term partners and offer a rolling placement for different students to access. Other companies offer a specific task or role and we identify students who would be motivated to complete that task.
Through our programmes we provide 1:1 support for students/employees and coordinate a local employer network. We also offer training in the following areas: Establishing a Diverse Workforce; Preparing Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Targets; Developing Equality and Diversity Policies.
We are proud to be working with Lakeland, Sodexo @ AstraZeneca, Hilton Hotels, BNY Mellon, Deanprint, Think Money, Tatton Park, Nixons Farm, Woodhouse Park Lifestyle Centre, Bramhall Methodist Church Cafe, The Wellspring Centre, Laltex, Morson International and more to find the right opportunities for our students.
See the success of Emma, a former student who went on to work at Morson after leaving the college, in this video:
Sodexo Catering Team
Our students have explored a variety of work experience opportunities at Sodexo working within catering, office and logistics functions.
The initiative was initially set up at the AstraZeneca Site in Macclesfield with 3 students completing work experience within the catering department and has expanded to encompass the Alderley Park site where students worked within the catering, office support and logistics teams. The staff at Sodexo have completed a number of training awareness sessions provided by Seashell trust to help overcome any communication barriers, and gain a better understanding of the students. Following on from her work experience in college, one student was successful in gaining paid employment, which she started in August 2013 and continues to thrive in her role. Nicola has complex needs so requires one to one support within her role, which Seashell has helped to source. Through a strong transition process, key knowledge and information was transferred from college to the new support provider which has enabled Nicola to continue in her role.
Green Fingers at Tatton Park
We have been working with Tatton Park Estate for a number of years, with students helping to clear leaves and debris from lawns and paths in the grounds.
Some of our students struggle with class based activities but show real progress completing physical tasks outdoors. Every week a working party made up of staff and students fill up a minibus with all the tools, equipment and a packed lunch and head to Tatton Park for a full days work. It’s a real team effort with students working together to complete a variety of different tasks.
Housekeeping at the Hilton
The Hilton Hotel have been supporting Seashell Trust for over 10 years, both with work experience opportunities, and hosting the leavers prom each year.
The Hilton have been our longest standing partners and have supported many students in their housekeeping department over the years. Students work in pairs to completely clean and tidy one room. They strip and remake the bed, clean surfaces, hoover, clean the bathroom and replenish sundries. This is a valuable resource as a means of students learning important life skills, and for some it is really motivating, leading to potential opportunities when they return to their home areas. The staff at Hilton have all embraced the work experience programme and it has improved their equality and diversity ethos.
Georgia | Retail assistant at Lakeland
As one of the UK's home shopping pioneers with nearly half a century of experience under our belts, Lakeland offer an unrivalled collection of creative kitchenware, practical ideas for the home and garden, and inspiring gifts from all over the world. It is also the new work experience place for one young lady who enjoys being part of a team. One day per week Georgia works at the store in Handforth, replenishing stock items, helping with demonstration and tasting sessions, and greeting customers with a friendly face. Georgia communicates using sign language and the team at Lakeland have been learning some basic signs.
Ballal | Selector at PZ Cussons
PZ Cussons is a multinational consumer goods business manifacturing some of the most familiar household brands in the world such as Imperial Leather, Original Source, Charles Worthington and Carex. The staff at the Manchester Airport site are entitled to purchase goods at a discounted rate, and Ballal helps the store team to get the staff orders ready.
Seashell Trust is also working with PZ Cussons on a world leading innovative project, researching the use of specifically created scents to develop our own ground-breaking practice to help enhance and extend the communication skills of multi-sensory impaired (deafblind) young people with severe learning difficulties, enabling them make choices and improve their life outcomes
Our Volunteering Team
Aman and Scott volunteer at the Wellspring Centre, a resource centre for homeless and disadvantaged people in Stockport. They help the team to clear tables, prepare meals and wash the pots.
Hani volunteers at a local church café, helping in the kitchen to wash pots and operate the dishwasher. Hani really enjoys this work experience and is often heard singing whilst she is working.
Andrew volunteers at a foodbank at a local church helping to hand out food parcels to customers.
Seashell's New Recruits
In September 2013 we employed two of our young people with complex learning difficulties to work with the domestic services and maintenance team. The role is a job share and encompasses tasks such as energy checks, vehicle cleaning, kitchen porter duties and recycling activities. As part of this, our HR team have taken part in a project to re-design and adapt some of our policies and forms to ensure that they are applicable and suitable for people with complex needs.
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