Disabled students from Seashell Trust in Stockport enjoyed a Christmas celebration in the lap of luxury to kick off the festive season.
International e-commerce company The Hut Group invited residential students to a Winter Wonderland party at its exclusive Hale Country Club.
The young people, who are cared for at the charity in Cheadle Hulme, live with a variety of complex disabilities including deafness, blindness and autism, combined with physical disabilities and profound learning difficulties.
All of them have some degree of brain damage, and critically, little or no ability to communicate verbally.
The Seashell students and staff were treated to a meal – accounting for all the different conditions the young people have – then off to visit Father Christmas in his grotto for early presents.
Kevin Pettigrew, from Seashell Trust, said: “Winter wonderland was a great experience. Our young people got to see and stroke a ‘real’ reindeer and talk to elves.
“One of the students was so grateful, repeating thank you to Santa and the elves after receiving a present of a Manchester United stationery set. It was all very magical with a very realistic Santa.”
Emmleigh Allcock, who works in House 5 at Seashell Trust, added: “The boys and staff thought the event was amazing. Everyone made such a fuss of the children, the grotto looked fantastic.
“We would all like to say a huge thank you to the people who worked there and who organised it. The boys are treasuring their presents.”
Amy Littler, from the Hut Group, said: “We are thrilled to be able to support the Seashell Trust and seeing the look on the students faces meeting Santa and the reindeer was priceless.”
