Starkey shows its support for Seashell Trust

Stockport firm Starkey Hearing Technologies has donated £750 to children’s disability charity Seashell Trust.

The charity, which has its national centre of excellence in Cheadle Hulme, cares for and educates children and young people with complex learning disabilities and communication difficulties from across the UK.

Many of their students are deaf or have auditory issues.

It has been chosen by the Hazel Grove hearing aid manufacturer as its charity of the year.

Suzie Bryant, from Starkey, said: “We raised the £750 for the Seashell Trust through a customer raffle held at our 40th anniversary celebration.

“Starkey are delighted to support such an outstanding local organisation and the dedicated, specialist teaching which takes place at the Seashell Trust. We are planning further fundraising events throughout this year.”

Marian Fahy, Seashell’s work experience co-ordinator, said: “Starkey are also very supportive of our work experience programme.

“They have supported us for at least three years. They initially offered work experience in two areas.

“One was in the shipping department putting labels on boxes and putting small items in hearing aid boxes. The other was in the office scanning invoices.

“Following a long and very successful placement for our student Robyn Gee, who was able to scan large quantities of invoices with no mistakes, they offered to make her position with them permanent, albeit on a voluntary basis. She continues to go one morning a week.

“Other Seashell students collect work on a weekly basis from Starkey. Mohsin, who is deaf and blind, puts the small items in the hearing aid cases and students from the Autistic Spectrum Condition department put labels on jiffy bags.”

This work experience is vital to develop Seashell students’ independence, self esteem and prepare them for employment, where possible, when they leave the trust.

• To become part of Seashell’s supported employment programme and offer a student an opportunity to discover the world of work, contact Marion Fahy on 0161 610 0100 or email Marian.Fahy@seashelltrust.org.uk.