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Summer Fun For SEND Families |
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LAST CHANCE!
School Play Space - Ends on Monday!
The Birches, West Didsbury, has 45 minute play sessions for SEND families in two play areas. There’ll be juice, milk cartons and biscuits, and access to toilets. For your safety at this time, both areas will be cleaned down each time after use. Sessions are available this week on Thursday and Friday, and on Monday 3rd August, between 10am-2pm, Monday to Fridays. Booking essential - call 0161 234 1946, Mon-Fri 10am-4pm.
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Family Cycle - THIS WEEKEND!
Platt Fields, Sunday 2nd August, 12.30pm
An easy-paced SEND family ride of around two hours, with stops. Bring your own bikes and refreshments. Children and young people must be accompanied by an adult. No need to book just turn up! Meet at the lakeside near the children's play area.
Future dates:
Alexandra Park, Sunday 23rd August, 12.30pm
Meet at the main entrance on Princess Road
Heaton Park, Sunday 6th September, 12.30pm
Meet at the car park near the children’s play area
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Get Outdoors With Groundwork - NEW!
Groundwork are running free sessions with an emotional wellbeing theme in Crumpsall Park, North Manchester. It’s for young people aged 10-14, and would particularly suit those with Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) needs. Activities will take place every Tuesday and Thursday in August from 12-3pm. It includes adventure den building, team building problem solving, tree identification, outdoor open space sports like tennis and skittles, creating a mini-garden to take home, and making hot chocolate with storm kettles. Suitable clothing will be needed as it will be outdoors rain or shine. Participants will get a text message the night before with the type of activity that will be delivered, as this will depend on the weather. Meet at the Visitor Centre, Crumpsall Park, M8 5SA. Healthy snacks and drinks provided.
Young people can book on as many sessions as they like. Booking essential - call 0161 219 2125, Mon-Fri 10am-4pm.
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Other Summer Activities For SEND Families
We shared these activities in last week’s newsletter – bookings still being taken:
Community Market Garden
These free 2hr sessions for Manchester SEND families with the Community Market Garden in Platt Fields, includes seed balls and bug hotels, painting plant pots and pebbles, Garden Bingo, and sowing seeds to take home. Sessions are 1-3pm on Thursdays 6th, 13th, 20th and 27th August. Booking essential – call 0161 219 2125, Mon-Fri 10am-4pm.
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Creative Ceramics
Venture Arts have two creative projects that over 100 SEND families can do at home this holidays. The first is to join artist Dominic Bennet in creating an army of ceramic weasels - inspired by characters in The Wind In The Willows - to be exhibited across the country! Dominic will send you a box containing all the clay, tools and step by step guidance you need to create some weasels to join his army – plus one for you to keep. You'll have a couple of weeks to work on your creations before they get collected, put in kiln and then returned to you again for glazing. You can also use the clay to make your own creation if you want to! Booking essential - call 0161 219 2125, Mon-Fri 10am-4pm.
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Family Dancing
No booking needed for these free, fun dance sessions for SEND Manchester families at Alexandra Park in Whalley Range. Expect a warm up, before a chance to invent your own dance grooves with your family. Please wear suitable clothing and shoes to move in, and keep 1 metre away from other families. Current sessions are: 10.15-11am and 11.30am-12.15pm on Friday 31st July, and Tuesday 4th, Wednesday 5th and Friday 7th August. Gather at the flat ground by the Russell Street entrance, Alexandra Park.
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Family Tree Top Trek
Free two hour sessions of tree-riffic bouncy adventure in the high trees are on offer at Heaton Park with Tree Top Trek. Enjoy playing high up in the trees on huge bouncy nets with super-fast slides and aerial walkways. These special free sessions for SEND families take place every Tuesday in the summer holidays, 11am-1pm, age 3 and upwards. See the website for FAQ, including what to wear. Booking essential - call 0161 219 2125, Mon-Fri 10am-4pm.
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Pedal & Picnic
Join Simply Cycling for an all ability guided ride and picnic on Manchester’s green routes, off-road trails and parks. The 2hr activity is for two families at a time and the routes will be geared around needs and abilities. They can be local or a bit further afield if you’d like to be more adventurous. Simply Cycling meet you at a pre-arranged location and bring bikes that all the family will be able to ride or be supported to ride - including wheelchair accessible bikes, family cargo bikes, tag-along trikes, trandems etc as well as ordinary two wheeled bikes. The aim is to get the whole family out and about in the fresh air and in local places of interest and beauty. You’ll ride for a while and then stop for a picnic or snacks and continue the ride or return to the meeting point. These weekday cycles are available through August. Booking essential – call 0161 219 2125, Mon-Fri 10am-4pm.
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School Play Space
Melland High School’s playing field in Gorton is open to SEND families from Monday 27th July to Friday 14th August, between 10am-3pm, Monday-Friday. It’s a huge, enclosed space - ideal for energetic children to run around safely. You’d be welcome to take a picnic, just be aware that toilets aren’t available. Booking essential - Mon-Fri 10am-4pm.
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All Sorts To Do In Manchester
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While our newsletters are the place to find out about activities for SEND families, All Sorts To Do is the go to site for what’s happening across the city for Manchester’s children. You can discover dinosaurs and fairies in the city's parks, flex your artistic skills with creative care kits, or just get some fresh air and exercise on a Manchester Green Trail walking route. Most activities are free of charge but you can also find out about paid activities, like horse-riding at Wythenshawe Park and pitch and putt golf at Heaton Park.
Having tried out searches on the site, we suggest the following:
- Make sure you’ve selected a time frame (eg. This Week, This Month, Full List)
- You may find it easier to search by location, which includes ‘Online only’
- Click on the activity heading to find out more information – many activities need to be booked in advance
There’s a link on the page to get the top picks each week. We tried it out and it’s easy to sign up.
Don’t forget, there are summer holiday playschemes taking place across the city. See here to find out what’s going on in your area!
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Community Gyms & Swimming |
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Some community gyms and swimming pools in Manchester are starting to open up. See Leisure Activities on Manchester City Council’s coronavirus page. This has links to Mcr Active information, which answers questions about safety and social distancing measures. All sessions must be booked in advance online or using an app before you visit. We suggest you read the information to get an idea of the restrictions in place to help you decide whether or not it’s for you at the moment.
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We had a look for particular information that might be helpful to your family:
- Swimming lesson are going to be reviewed in the coming weeks. If your child had swimming lessons, you'll be contacted by the centre when lessons re-start.
- Family swimming will be available at weekends in some leisure centres. There won’t be other swim sessions straight away but this is being reviewed on a regular basis.
- Junior Gym (11-15 year olds) sessions will restart for existing members with a parent or Guardian in attendance. There won’t be inductions for new Junior Gym members just yet.
- Junior gym memberships are on hold for the time being at Arcadia, Moss Side, North City, East Manchester and Hough End leisure centres.
If you would like to contact Mcr Active about any issue, see here.
Don’t forget – general swim sessions are free in the school holidays if you’re aged 16 and under! More info here.
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Manchester Art Gallery Re-Opening |
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Manchester Art Gallery is reopening its doors from 20th August. The Gallery will be open four days a week, Thursdays to Sundays, between 11am and 4pm each day. A one-way, accessible route, with benches, has been created though the building that will allow visitors to see many of the highlights of the collection, plus a brand-new introductory gallery. Entry is by booking – book your ticket here soon. You’ll be given a timed slot and will need to wear a face-covering, unless exempt. If you have any special access requirements, call 0161 235 8888.
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Reasonable Adjustment Card |
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As you’re going around the city, here is a downloadable card for SEND families explaining that reasonable adjustments may need to be made. It has been produced by Manchester Parent Carer Forum with the support of Manchester City Council.
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Government Face-covering Advice & Exemptions - July 2020 Government advice on when to wear a face-covering and exemption cards to print and put on mobile phone. See here.
Here is a ministerial letter from the Department of Education / Department of Health & Social Care to all children and young people with SEND, their families, and those that support them, about preparing for the return to school in September.
Crossroads Together have free online sessions for carers to get together and have a natter at this difficult time. Run by carer advisors, you can find out about them here.
Benefits & Financial Support - See this Carers Network bulletin for updates on the rental evictions ban extension, furlough, United Utilities scheme, Statutory Sick Pay, benefits repayments, Personal Independent Payment (PIP) and Disability Living Allowance (DLA).
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