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Mental Health & Wellbeing |
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New Helpline For SEND Families
There’s a new helpline to support autistic people, people with learning disabilities, and their parents and carers affected by the coronavirus crisis in Greater Manchester. The helpline is staffed by counsellors from Respect For All and will run for at least six months, depending on demand and the current situation.
Call 0161 532 4075 – Monday 6-8pm, Tuesday 4pm-6pm, Wednesday 6-8pm, Thursday 10am-12 noon, Friday 5-7pm, Saturday 4-6pm. There is an answerphone at other times. While this isn’t a free helpline, Respect For All will call you back so you don’t have to take the cost of the calls.
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Manchester Mental Health Resource Hub
Buzz Manchester has a COVID-19 Resource Hub with useful information and signposting around a range of mental health topics, including anxiety, depression, substance misuse and bereavement.
Sleep Help
Good-quality sleep makes a big difference to how we feel, mentally and physically. You may be finding it harder to get a good night’s sleep at the moment. New resources are available from Public Health England at Every Mind Matters.
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EHCPs – Changes In Law
In this short video, Andy Lomax from Information, Advice & Support Manchester outlines the temporary changes in the law around Education, Health and Care Plans.
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Social Distancing Simplified
This short information video from NWTDT/Pathways Team simplifies the government guidelines on the relaxation of distancing and may be helpful for people with learning disabilities.
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Stay Connected Leaflet - Multiple Languages
Manchester City Council wants to help residents get online, stay safe online and make the most of the internet at this time. The Stay Connected Through COVID-19 leaflet is now available in multiple languages.
Your Patient Information
Sharing your patient information is vital in supporting your care and treatment, especially in the COVID-19 pandemic. There is now the GM Care Record in Greater Manchester to support your care, wherever and whenever you may need it. The GM Care Record helps workers in health and social care understand individual needs and supports them in making the best decisions for care. This includes information about when a patient has been diagnosed with COVID-19 and whether they are self-isolating at home or have been hospitalised. Find out more here.
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Carers Week 2020
It’s Carers Week and this year’s theme is Making Carers Visible. In a virtual roundtable meeting with the Government, national charities highlighted the additional pressure on unpaid carers during the pandemic and the support they will need in the future. Research by Carers UK has shown that 70% of unpaid carers are providing more care for loved ones during the lockdown period and 55% feel overwhelmed and worried about burning out. Go to the Carers Week website to find out more about this and the activities on offer.
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Make a Fellow SEND Parent/Carer Smile This Carers Week
Manchester Parent Carer Forum have created a gift of thanks to celebrate the dedication and devotion of Manchester’s parents and carers. You can send a little (virtual) surprise to a friend with a child or young person with SEND. It’s really easy – just fill in the online form and off it goes. You can do it as many times as you like!
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Energy Advice
As more people have been at home, bills may have been rising. The Energy Advice Team at CAB can help – this might be advice around energy efficiency measures, negotiating with energy suppliers, and grant support. See their website for contact details and or their Out of Advice Service (7pm-10pm, 7 days a week).
Energy Works at Groundwork Greater Manchester also offer support over the phone around energy issues. This includes advice on switching suppliers, pre-payment meters, and freezing rates where eligible. See their COVID-19 flyer for more information.
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Free Income Checks
Are you worrying about money and making ends meet? Are you accessing all of the financial support available? There is lots of support available to get you and your family through this crisis and to help in the longer term. Greater Manchester Law Centre offer a free confidential income check that will review benefits, grants and other support that may be available. Call 0161 769 2244 or email incomemax@gmlaw.org.uk. For further information see their website.
For weekly updates around welfare and benefits, see this blog on Manchester Carers Network.
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Activity Resource From Mencap
To help in these unusual times, Mencap have created some resources to help with keeping busy and having structure to the days and weeks – Coronavirus: Ways to keep busy. This includes crafts and games, activities for daily walks, and a garden activity pack.
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Free SEN Music Sessions For 0-5s
Soundabout are running interactive music making every Monday at 2pm until the end of August on their You Tube channel. It’s aimed at 0-5 years old with SEND, especially children with profound or multiple disabilities. You can watch the sessions afterwards if you don’t get chance at the time.
I Spy Nature Activity
The People’s History Museum is piloting a new resource with SEND families. Lots of banners in the museum are decorated with patterns and images inspired by nature. The ‘I Spy…Nature Activity’ encourages families to look in their gardens or go for a walk to see how many they can find. See the Manchester Parent Carer Forum’s website for more information.
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Photography Competition
For more than 50 years, the National Children’s Bureau (NCB) has worked to champion the rights of children and young people in the UK. To celebrate and showcase the children and young people that they work with, they’re holding their first mobile phone photography competition for under 25s. The winner of each of three categories will receive a £50 Amazon voucher and the work may be used by NCB in their communications. Deadline: Wednesday 24th June. Read more and enter the competition here.
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Tomorrow’s Leaders
Tomorrow’s Leaders: A World Beyond Disability is an exciting new publication sharing the remarkable achievements and personal stories of over 30 inspirational young disabled people who are leading in their communities. We’re delighted to see two of the SEND Changemakers at Greater Manchester Youth Network (GMYN) in there – Nicola Jacques and Sam Hills!
It’s a joint publication between the Education and Training Foundation and the Council for Disabled Children. Young people interested in getting involved in the Tomorrow’s Leaders blog can email Deborah Salami at dsalami@ncb.org.uk – they'll receive their Top Ten Tips for Blogging to help them get started!
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Online Communication - Top Tips For Professionals
With virtual engagement increasing, FLARE - the young people’s advisory group supported by the Council for Disabled Children - have created Top Tips for professionals around communicating online with disabled children and young people. View their video and download their Top Tips here.
Website For Young Deaf People
The Buzz is a website for deaf young people. They have blogs and vlogs to support deaf young people at this time, including top tips for staying positive, coronavirus and depression, managing change, and ways to work from home.
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Date For Your Diary - Virtual Drop In |
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Our next Local Offer virtual drop in is on Wednesday 24th June, 10am-12 noon. It’s for parents and carers of children or young people with SEND who are looking for information and support. See here for the services taking part and their contact details.
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