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Our next Virtual Drop In for parent carers is on Wednesday 21st April, 10am-12 noon. As usual, we’ll be sending out a list of who’s taking part a few days before. Look out for it in your inbox!
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Unpaid Carers – Your Vaccination
If you are an unpaid carer and have questions about your vaccination, Carers Manchester have produced a Coronavirus Vaccine Special newsletter and temporarily extended their Contact Point opening hours from 10am-6pm Monday to Friday. Here is parent carer Justine Bailey, who has an autistic son with ADHD and severe mental health difficulties, urging unpaid carers to go for their COVID vaccine.
If you or the person you care for are due to have your second dose over the next few weeks, you will be invited by either letter or text message. You should receive this around 10 weeks after you were first vaccinated, inviting you to an appointment at around 11 weeks. Find out more here.
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Vaccinations For Over 45s
LATEST NEWS! Everyone aged 45 and over or clinically vulnerable can book an appointment online or call the NHS on 119 to get their COVID-19 vaccine and take that first step to getting protected. There are also pop up clinics around Manchester to meet the increasing demand for vaccinations. You can just walk in – more information here.
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Free Rapid Testing
Last week, the Government announced that from Friday 9th April everyone in England will be able to access free regular rapid COVID-19 testing. Around one in three people with COVID-19 don’t experience any symptoms and may be spreading the virus unknowingly. Testing yourself regularly is one of the simplest and easiest ways you can keep yourself and loved ones safe. Find out how to get your regular tests in Manchester.
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Resources For SEND Families
The Challenging Behaviour Foundation has produced three information sheets to support families at this time:
'Please give me space' is a new initiative from the makers of the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower lanyard scheme. It is designed to support people with non-visible disabilities who find it difficult to socially distance. The emblem signals to others that they need to pay attention and give some space.
A new suite of resources for commissioners and providers of care has information in Appendix 1 for people with a learning disability, autistic people and families and carers around engaging with NHS services during the pandemic. It offers advice on how to get in touch with services and gain access to the support you need.
Ramadan has begun and will last for 30 days with the celebratory days of Eid al-Fitr starting on Wednesday 12th May or Thursday 13th May. It is the holiest month of the year for Muslims, but like many other events and celebrations over the past 12 months, Ramadan will be a very different experience in 2021. Whilst restrictions will be more relaxed compared to 2020, many of the usual practices normally observed will sadly still not be possible this year. Here is some guidance from the Muslim Council of Britain.
In this video, Ustadh Nasar Ishfaq, Imam at Manchester's British Muslim Heritage Centre, encourages people who will be observing Ramadan not to delay having their Covid vaccination and explains that having a Covid test will not invalidate the fast.
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If you’re looking for things to do at the tail end of the Easter holidays, there are still some free activities for Manchester families. Check out our last newsletter.
Explore Manchester
We know that many children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities – and their families – are eager to get back out there and visit the many wonderful attractions in Manchester. This is why Manchester Parent Carer Forum are launching the Explore Manchester project! With the help of 4CT Limited, they will be creating newsletters about some of the local museums and cultural places that many of us love. There will also be some fun Manchester-themed things to do, like quizzes and colouring sheets. Register by the 23rd April and this will give you a chance to win one of 30 Explorer Backpacks! Find out more and register here.
All Ability Cycling In The City
Simply Cycling are bringing sessions back to Boggart Hole Clough in the north of the city! They’re on Mondays from 11am–2pm and Tuesdays 11am–2pm, starting on the hour for 45 minutes at £3 per person. Due to coronavirus restrictions, please book for these and the regular sessions at Wythenshawe Park and Longford Park. Simply Cycling also offer group and 1-to-1 rides out from £20 per person. Through this opportunity, cyclists have grown in confidence, developed bike handling skills and been able to explore their local area. To book call Sue 07753 428937 or Helen 07871 621778.
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Walks To Explore
The Manchester Green Trail is a walking circuit made up of 14 routes connecting many of the beautiful green spaces, public parks and tree-lined streets around the city. It’s a collaboration between Manchester City Council, Transport for Greater Manchester, and Manchester and Salford Ramblers. You can find all the 14 maps for viewing, downloading and printing here.
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Libraries & Leisure
Libraries across the city have reopened their doors for browsing once again. You can find information on current opening times and restrictions on the Council website. Indoor and outdoor leisure facilities are also opening up. This MCRactive information tells you which services you can visit, including play parks, gyms and pools.
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Training For Parent Carers |
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Carers Manchester has two free online workshops coming up – Stress Management, Thursday 22nd April, 1.30-3.30pm, Being A Carer, Tuesday 27th April, 10am-12 noon. For more information and to book, see the Carers Manchester website.
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Are you worried about your child being exploited? The National Autistic Society has received funding to deliver a series of free workshops to parents looking at different areas of exploitation: cybercrime, radicalisation, child sexual exploitation, county lines (relating to drug dealing networks) and fraud. All sessions will be delivered online up to June this year and last about an hour. See this flyer for more information and if interested, please register your interest by contacting clare.hughes@nas.org.uk.
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Gender Identity and Autism Workshop - This Zoom session on April 26th, 10.30am-12.30pm, is aimed at parents who want to support a young person who is questioning their gender identity. It’s £20 and you can sign up here. Any queries to autism.ahandsonapproach@gmail.com or call 07966 399 709.
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In this programme for World Autism Awareness Week on Mid-morning on BBC Radio Oxford, Laura talks about her son, Rory, who had a sudden and rapid change in behaviour at the age of 5 due to a condition called PANDAS. You have just over two weeks to listen to the programme. To find out more, visit PANS PANDAS UK.
The new LeDeR policy includes autistic people for the first time. LeDeR is the Learning Disability Mortality Review and refers to reviews that are conducted after the death of a person with learning disability. This means more will now be learned to help stop autistic people dying too young. Here is a link to the full policy and an easy read version.
Our Manchester Strategy – Forward to 2025
The Our Manchester Strategy 2016–2025 sets out the future Manchester we want to see. Halfway through the original strategy, the priorities have been reset for the years to 2025, acknowledging – but looking beyond – current challenges. Based on over 3800 consultation responses last summer, equality, inclusivity and sustainability now take centre stage, and there is a renewed focus on young people, our economy, health, housing, our environment and infrastructure. See here for more information and to download the strategy.
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There is still time for young people over the age of 18 to apply to volunteer in this year’s Manchester International Festival, 1st-18th July. The team would love to hear from young people with additional needs. You can find out more here and register using the online form. If a Word version is preferred, please email volunteering@mif.co.uk or call 0161 817 4500. Get priority by using the code ‘SEND’ - this tells the team the application has come via this newsletter! Closing date: Thursday 29th April.
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The Prince’s Trust Development Awards are small, fast-access grants to support those aged 16-30 to progress into education, training or employment. Development awards can help to cover the cost of course fees, tools or equipment to help young people achieve their goals. They can offer up to £250 per young person and up to £500 for care leavers. Find out more here.
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Carers Manchester are looking for carers to take part in focus groups so they can improve services in Manchester. They just need an hour of your time to talk about your caring role, and as a thank you, you’ll receive a £20 voucher. Contact helen.andrews@gaddum.org.uk by Friday 23rd April. Carers Manchester are also asking carers to create short videos (30 seconds or less) or write short pieces to be shared on their social media pages during Carers Week, 7-14th June. The theme is what being valued and visible means to you as a carer. The video can be filmed on your mobile phone, tablet or computer in your own home, and the written piece can be anonymous if you like. Please send to helen.andrews@gaddum.org.uk by Friday 7th May.
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Respect for All offers counselling for autistic people and learning disabled people in Greater Manchester and their families. They are looking at developing a post-diagnostic service for autistic adults and children and would like to hear about people’s experiences. The new service will support individuals to understand, embrace and develop their identity as autistic people and provide access to information, support and advice to guide the person and their family through the journey. If you can help, please fill in this online survey or email nmills@respectforall.org.uk if you’d prefer a paper copy. Closing date: Friday 30th April.
A researcher at Salford University wants to hear from young people, carers and professionals around the experience of romantic relationships and sexuality education. The aim is to better understand the experience of romantic relationships in young neurodivergent people and whether current sex education could be improved. There are separate surveys for young people (18-25), carers, and professionals. For more information, please contact Magdalena Smusz, PhD Candidate at M.P.Smusz@edu.salford.ac.uk. Closing date: 31st August.
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The pandemic has created specific accessibility problems for students who are D/deaf, blind, or visually impaired, including getting Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA) during lockdown. If you know any of these students, please encourage them to take part in the survey here - survey in BSL, survey for those with screen readers.
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