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COVID-19 Community Resource Hub |
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Do you know about Manchester’s Covid-19 Resource Hub? It’s the place to go for information in alternative formats and languages, including the NHS Covid-19 Smart Phone App, the return to school, staying safe (eg. handwashing, face coverings and social distancing), and the Test and Trace service. There are further materials for SEND families on our Local Offer Coronavirus Advice & Information webpage - see ‘Coronavirus Updates & Info’.
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Help With Debt, Bills & Borrowing - If you’re not working or furloughed at the moment due to COVID-19, visit www.manchester.gov.uk/helpinghands for advice and support on a range of topics, including debt advice, food banks and mortgage repayments.
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Benefits update - Contact’s updated Disability Living Allowance (DLA) and Personal Independence Payment (PIP) guides explain what happens to renewals during the coronavirus pandemic and what parents should do if they’re not sure what's happening with their child's claim. Contact has also updated its factsheet on claiming Universal Credit (UC) for a young disabled person.
Employment Support - Support is available for Manchester residents who have lost their jobs, are worried about possible redundancy or had their hours reduced due to COVID-19. The Council and partners can help you to gain new skills, retrain and find new work. Register your details on the Help to Get Work page and they will be in touch to help you access the support you need.
New Mentoring Programme - Positive pathways is a new mentoring programme from Foundation 92 for young people aged 16-24 with SEND who are unemployed/economically inactive. Young people will receive mentoring support and guidance for 10 hours a week over an 8 week period. Sessions will be around a football theme and held in small socially distanced groups of no more than 8 in a physical activity environment and classroom in Albert Park, Salford. More information and a referral form can be found here (to the left of the page) or contact adam.blears@Foundation92.co.uk.
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There are some new housing guides for autistic and/or learning disabled people:
They have been produced by the Greater Manchester Autism and Learning Disability Housing Implementation Group. There are also guides for housing associations, private landlords, and housing support organisations in Greater Manchester. They can all be found as downloads to the left of our National Autistic Society page.
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Sense Connect has several programmes to help tackle social isolation at this time:
Virtual buddying service - Matches a disabled person with a volunteer to socialise over the phone, by videocall or letter. For individuals of all ages with complex communication and sensory needs.
The Sense Specialist Services runs virtual group activities and individual sessions for children/young people aged 0-25 who have a multi-sensory impairment or a single sensory impairment and additional needs. There are also virtual support groups for parents and carers.
This new online project supports the wellbeing of young people aged 5-18 with caring responsibilities. It includes group and one to one sessions where young people can share their experiences and interests with fellow siblings or young carers.
Find out more here.
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Ministerial SEND Roundtable - On 15 September, key stakeholders of the SEND sector attended the SEND Joint Ministerial Roundtable to give evidence and share views on how children, young people and families and the organisations that work with them have operated during the pandemic. Read about it here.
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Carers Manchester newsletter – The latest edition from the end of September.
Manchester Deaf Centre newsletter – Here's the first edition of the Centre’s newsletter. If you look in the top left hand corner, there is a link to subscribe.
Ring & Ride update – The Ring & Ride service is operating as normal, with some restrictions and enhanced safety measures. Seat spacing allows a minimum of one metre between passengers. This increases the capacity to six passengers, which means some group bookings can resume. For more information on the safety measures, fares, how to register and to book a journey, visit the Transport for Greater Manchester website.
New free e-learning: Holistic Outcomes In EHC Plans - This free, self-guided course from the Council for Disabled Children takes all the key elements from their popular live training and repackages it into a series of online modules. Suitable for parent carers and family members.
Kids to Adultz ‘Venue to Virtual’, 9-13th November - This online Disabled Living event offers free virtual access to the many exhibitors, companies, and support organisations who will be showcasing their products and services at various times during the week. Register on the website.
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North West SEND Young People’s Survey - Please encourage and support any young people you know to fill in this survey. It’s being shared by the NW SEND Co-production Steering Group and will help to create a collective voice about what young people want in their city.
The National Children’s Bureau is doing a series of blogs sharing children and young people’s experiences of lockdown. The next one is around children with special educational needs and/or disabilities. Young people can take part by:
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This survey from the North West Disabled People’s Stakeholder Group will help in understanding the issues affecting disabled people in employment during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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If you don’t receive our newsletters and would like to,
find out how to subscribe here.
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