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As we come out of lockdown and into Tier 3, this is a busy edition of the newsletter. Don’t forget, our Coronavirus Advice & Information is packed with local and national resources, including ‘Emotional & Mental Wellbeing’, ‘Benefits, Money & Household’, ‘Support From Organisations’ and ‘Young People’. If there’s something you need that isn’t there, get in touch with us.
The Local Offer Team
Email: localoffer@manchester.gov.uk
0161 234 1946
Twitter: Manchester Local Offer @MCRLocalOffer
www.manchester.gov.uk/sendlocaloffer
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New COVID-19 Carers Peer Support Group
Manchester Health and Care Commissioning are working together with Gaddum and the Greater Manchester Neurological Alliance (GMNA) to host a weekly COVID-19 Carers Peer Support Group. It’s for unwaged carers in Greater Manchester who are recovering from coronavirus or been affected by it and is an opportunity to come together to share experiences and speak to other carers. Meetings are on Mondays, 12.30-1.30pm. Call/text 07702 668169 or email mhcc.engagement@nhs.net for a Zoom invitation. Expenses are available to help you join online or by telephone.
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Coronavirus Resources & Information
The Council for Disabled Children has created a list of helpful resources and information relating to coronavirus. This information is for parent carers, children and young people and professionals & practitioners in the education, health and social care sector. You can find local resources on our Local Offer Coronavirus Advice & Information page.
Education Update
The guidance for full opening of special schools and other specialist settings has been updated (20 Nov). As we come to the end of the autumn term, the expectation is that all children and young people, in all year groups and setting types, remain in education settings full time where possible.
Government Guidance:
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Free Workshops For Parent Carers
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Contact have arranged a series of free virtual workshops as a way of delivering their family support services during these challenging times:
- Educational support for children with additional needs
- Handling meetings effectively
- Money matters
- Encouraging positive behaviour
- Wellbeing for parents/carers of children with additional needs
- Helping your child sleep
- Support for speech and language issues in young children
They are continually adding new dates. See here for more information.
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The latest Carers Manchester newsletter includes free online workshops for carers in Moving & Handling (7 Dec), Managing Stress (10 Dec) and Music, Movement and Fun (11 Dec).
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 The Carers Emergency Fund is for carers (aged 16+) to ensure the ongoing health and wellbeing of both the carer and the person who needs care. This includes those households where a child or young person is the carer. The funding can be used for transport costs (including taxis) or fuel, furniture, emergency delivery of food and one-off practical costs to help with the caring role at this time. Carers can receive advice about accessing this financial support by ringing the Manchester Carers Contact Point: Monday to Friday from 10am to 4pm on 0161 543 8000 or their Young Carers Coordinator. Alternatively, carers can email contactpoint@carersmanchester.org.uk or visit Manchester City Council website or www.carersmanchester.org.uk.
For more information on funds, see our new Local Offer 'Grants & Funding' information.
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Dealing with coronavirus and flu like symptoms - grab sheets
- Identifies some of the key early symptoms of COVID-19 and flu and describes what the main differences are - Sheet 1 and Easy Read Sheet
- Tells us about the important things to do if you believe someone you support or care for has symptoms of COVID-19 or flu like symptoms - Sheet 2 and Easy Read Sheet 2
- How to look after yourself if you are caring for someone who is ill with COVID-19 or flu like symptoms - Sheet 3 and Easy Read Sheet 3
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Date For Your Diary
Our next Virtual Drop In is on Wednesday 16th December, 10am - 12 noon. As usual, we'll be sending out a newsletter early that week with all the contact details.
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Manchester City Council has a digital inclusion support service for people who have the internet at home but need help with their skills or confidence. Advice can be given on everything from the very basics to setting up an email address, video-calling family, downloading apps, making supermarket orders, and booking GP appointments. Text 07860 064 128 or email digitalinclusion@manchester.gov.uk , giving a name and the area of Manchester where you live. A digital volunteer will call you back. Calls can be made in 15 languages so if you'd like the call in a different language to English, let them know.
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My Family Our Needs has recently launched The Transition Event Hub. It brings together experts to talk about the different transition topics and aims to answer your questions and arm you with the most up-to-date information so you can best support disabled young people and safeguard their future. If you have a question for one of their speakers, you can fill in the 'Ask our speakers' form and they will get it answered for you as soon as possible.
Contact is reminding parent carers to get their young people added to the GP learning disability register so they don’t miss out on their annual health check. Currently, only 53% of people with learning disabilities are having the health check they are entitled to. Families can ask GP surgeries to make reasonable adjustments, provide easy read information, and make their surgery more welcome for disabled children and their families.
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The latest newsletter from Manchester Deaf Centre. Subscribe and see past issues on the upper left.
Watch out for loan sharks in the run up to Christmas, especially online. One in five victims met their lender on social media in the first half of 2020. Find out more at www.stoploansharks.co.uk.
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New Project For Neurodivergent Creatives
There are several places available on a new project for neurodivergent creatives aged 16-25 in Greater Manchester. The Creative Industries Insights Programme will work with neurodivergent young people who are not currently in employment, education or training, to develop knowledge and understanding of the creative industries. Starling’s programme will run from December to May and all young people will have the opportunity to complete a Bronze Arts Award, an accredited Level 1 qualification, as part of the programme.
This training is completely free and Starling will support participants with digital equipment if needed. Each participant will also be able to access vouchers to support their training. The application date has been extended to Monday 7th December to fill the last few places. Here’s the registration/referral form: https://form.jotformeu.com/202453454315348. Email Kayt at kayt@starlingcio.org.uk for more information or call 07508 371703.
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Manchester Deaf Centre – New Activities
Manchester Deaf Centre has new activities for children and young people who are Deaf, Hard of Hearing, Deaf/Blind or CODAs. It’s a chance to have fun, meet new people and try new things at the centre:
- Youth Club (6-14 year olds) - Saturday 12th December. 10:30-12:30. Games & Christmas Card making
- DAVE Group (14-25 year olds) - Tuesday 15th December, 6pm-8pm, Pizzas, Planning & Christmas Card making
Contact Manchester Deaf Centre's new Children and Young People's Service Leaders: Zoe Taylor (ages 14+) zoetaylor@manchesterdeafcentre.com, 07577121667 or Rachel Officer (Under 14's) rachelofficer@manchesterdeafcentre.com
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Art With Heart
Squirrel Club is a new digital workshop for young people with ADHD from Art With Heart. There’s a video that young people can participate in at their own pace and create a character that explores ways of expressing what it’s like to live with ADHD. Once they’ve finished the video, they can book onto a Zoom during December with Creative Director, Sarah Emmott, to discuss their character and what it means. Squirrel Club is the development of a workshop that was created as part of the tour of Declaration, an award-winning show about Sarah’s road to ADHD diagnosis. Find out more here. Contact at hello@artwithheart.org.uk, www.artwithheart.org.uk.
Papyrus Extended Hours
Papyrus’ HOPELINEUK is for children and young people under the age of 35 who are experiencing thoughts of suicide. It is also for anyone concerned that a young person could be thinking about suicide. The service now has extended hours and is open 9am to midnight every day, including weekends and bank holidays. Call: 0800 068 4141, Text: 07860 039967, Email: pat@papyrus-uk.org.
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The Care and Support Alliance represents over 75 of Britain’s leading charities campaigning for a properly funded care system. They are keen to hear from all those that need care, including carers, to get a good picture of people’s experiences during the pandemic. You can find their survey here with an easy read version. The results will be used as part of the Alliance’s campaigning work to ensure the Government fully funds social care and that people get the care they need when they need it.
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