SEASHELL TRUST
The charity provides high quality specialist care and education, including physical training, to children and young adults with one or more form of complex communication and learning difficulties which means that they require special provision. Royal Schools for the Deaf, Manchester (charity no 526091) gifted certain assets and its operating activities to Seashell Trust on 1 September 2008.
Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts
The accounts state that the Trust returned a net deficit on unrestricted funds of £2,561,000 for the year ended 31 August 2025, primarily due to increased costs from government changes and reduced student numbers. Per the trustees' report, free reserves of £1,336,000 are below the lower end of the target range (£2.1 million to £6.3 million), prompting a five-year plan to rebuild reserves. Despite this deficit, the Directors and auditors confirm the Trust remains a going concern with no material uncertainties.
What the accounts disclose
“£190,001 - £200,000 1 1” — page 39
“Charitable activities 22,707 23,831 (1,124)” — page 16
“resulting in a gap to the lower end of the range of target free reserves stated in the reserves policy.” — page 17
In the news
- Laltex Group’s partnership with Seashell Trust honoured with King’s Award for Enterprise
- Eric Wright completes £29m school for Seashell Trust
- Trainee solicitor takes on triathlon for Seashell Trust
- Construction begins on Seashell Trust £22 million college building
- HRH The Duchess of Edinburgh visits Seashell Trust charity in Cheadle
- Plans progress for new homes on former Seashell Trust campus
- Seashell Trust cracks on with next stage of Stockport complex
- Seashell Trust unveils new home for Royal School Manchester in bicentennial year
Corporate structure
- Registered company of the charity Companies House 04216714
Leadership, per the charity’s website
- Dr Lynn Perry — Chair of Governors, Trustee and Vice Chair of Board of Trustees
- Chris Smale — Governor
Company officers (Companies House)
- QUAYLE, Nicola Jean on trustee list
- LLOYD, Richard Huw on trustee list
- KORTLAND, Elanor Ruth on trustee list
- HOLBROOK, Beth on trustee list
- MUNNELLY, Joanna on trustee list
- HOGGINS, Colin on trustee list
- MCMILLAN, Rachel on trustee list
- PERRY, Lynn, Dr on trustee list
- MASOM, Neil Andrew on trustee list
- POVEY, Carol Mary on trustee list
- HEATH, Martin on trustee list
- BODDICE, Benjamin
Public-sector contracts awarded
| Buyer | Contract | Awarded | Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| NHS CHESHIRE AND MERSEYSIDE INTEGRATED CARE BOARD | Continuing Health Service in Cheshire & Merseyside | — | — |
Property (HM Land Registry)
Advertised salaries (public job ads)
- Trust and Statutory Fundraising Manager — £40,000 - £43,000 per year
Structured financials (annual return, FY ending 31/08/2025)
Care Quality Commission ratings
- Seashell Health Service: Outstanding
- Royal College Manchester: Good
Register events
- Received assets from another charity (08/01/2021)
Trustees
- Beth Holbrook
- Carol Povey
- Colin Hoggins
- Dr Lynn Perry
- Elanor Kortland
- Joanna Munnelly
- Martin Heath
- Neil Andrew Masom
- Nicola Quayle
- Rachel McMillan
- Richard Lloyd
Income and spending
| Financial year end | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
| 31/08/2025 | £26.7m | £27.4m |
| 31/08/2024 | £45.3m | £27.2m |
| 31/08/2023 | £27.4m | £23.1m |
| 31/08/2022 | £20.3m | £19.4m |
| 31/08/2021 | £37.4m | £18.0m |
Common questions
Is SEASHELL TRUST financially healthy?
Per its FY2025 accounts: The accounts state that the Trust returned a net deficit on unrestricted funds of £2,561,000 for the year ended 31 August 2025, primarily due to increased costs from government changes and reduced student numbers. Per the trustees' report, free reserves of £1,336,000 are below the lower end of the target range (£2.1 million to £6.3 million), prompting a five-year plan to rebuild reserves. Despite this deficit, the Directors and auditors confirm the Trust remains a going concern with no material uncertainties. Its FY2025 accounts were audited by Forvis Mazars LLP.
What does the highest-paid employee of SEASHELL TRUST earn?
Per its FY2025 accounts, the highest-paid employee was in the £190,001 - £200,000 band.
Who funds SEASHELL TRUST?
Funders whose own accounts filings name SEASHELL TRUST as a grant recipient include THE MOULDING FOUNDATION, THE MICHAEL BISHOP FOUNDATION, GARFIELD WESTON FOUNDATION, THE CHRIS BANTON FOUNDATION, HOLLYHOCK CHARITABLE FOUNDATION.
Known funders
Government & lottery funding
| Funder | Date | Amount | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sport England | 26/03/2025 | £15k | CADS Plus: Inclusive sports club for disabled young adults |
| Postcode Lottery | 30/04/2024 | £75k | Millionaire Street 2024 03w4 |
| Sport England | 01/03/2023 | £10k | PTR: Cheadle Hulme Cycling Hub |
| The National Lottery Community Fund | 04/02/2022 | £9k | Children's Able and Disabled Sports Programme (CADS) |
| Sport England | 20/07/2021 | £48k | Sector Renewal Fund: Seashell Active |
| The National Lottery Community Fund | 19/02/2021 | £10k | Outreach Project to Support SEND Families |
| Sport England | 01/02/2021 | £368k | Places to Ride |
| UK government | 01/04/2020 | £106k | Seashell |
| The National Lottery Community Fund | 28/06/2018 | £10k | Seashell Trust Family Services Workshops |
| The National Lottery Community Fund | 25/11/2015 | £10k | Seashell Trust - IT for all |
Funders of similar charities
| Funder | Similar charities funded | Amount to them |
|---|---|---|
| BLUESPARK FOUNDATION | 1 | — |
| THE TRISTAN DA CUNHA ASSOCIATION | 1 | £451k |
| THE GERALD MICKLEM CHARITABLE TRUST | 1 | £227k |
| THE PATRICK & HELENA FROST FOUNDATION | 1 | £59k |
| WOODEN SPOON SOCIETY | 1 | £25k |
| E B M CHARITABLE TRUST | 1 | £25k |
| THE HELEN ROLL CHARITY | 1 | £25k |
| DUCHY HEALTH CHARITY LIMITED | 1 | £20k |
Charities like this
- Royal Deaf Education Trust
- THE TALKING TRUST
- THE SHEILING SPECIAL EDUCATION TRUST
- THE ROYAL SCHOOL FOR THE BLIND CHARITY, LIVERPOOL
- ROYAL SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF DERBY
- HF TRUST LIMITED
Side by side with its peers
| Charity | Income | Top pay band | Staff >£60k | Reserves vs policy | Fundraising cost | Going concern |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SEASHELL TRUST | £26.7m | £190,001 - £200,000 | — | below | — | no doubt |
| Royal Deaf Education Trust | £9.0m | — | 3 | below | — | no doubt |
| THE TALKING TRUST | £9.5m | £100,001 - £110,000 | — | unclear | — | no doubt |
| THE SHEILING SPECIAL EDUCATION TRUST | £10.1m | — | — | above | — | no doubt |
| THE ROYAL SCHOOL FOR THE BLIND CHARITY, LIVERPOOL | £6.3m | £70,001 to £80,000 | 1 | unclear | — | no doubt |
| ROYAL SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF DERBY | £5.6m | — | — | above | — | noted |