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Our next Virtual Drop In for parent carers is on Wednesday 23rd June, 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! (If you’re not subscribed to our newsletters and want to be, email ali.davenport@manchester.gov.uk.)
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It was announced yesterday that Greater Manchester has moved to an Enhanced Response Area due to the rise of COVID-19 cases in the region. In Manchester, the COVID-19 infection rates are rapidly increasing and we are now entering a crucial few weeks. Under the new rules, there will be no change in the restrictions we face but there will be enhanced guidance to help us all stay safe. The Enhanced Response Area status will also help with the city's plans and strategies to trace variants of concern. Please #KeepDoingYourBit:
- limit the number of different people and households you mix with
- meet outdoors wherever possible
- keep washing hands, wiping surfaces, wearing masks or face coverings when needed
- keep rooms ventilated and keep social distancing
- get your vaccine as soon as it is offered to you
- get a PCR COVID test if you develop symptoms - this is the swab test that gets sent to a lab for the results and is the only way to check for new strains quickly
Manchester’s public health team is increasing the availability of the vaccine to younger people in certain parts of the city where there is a risk of the variant spreading faster. You can read more about this in the Council’s COVID bulletin.
The Roadmap
On Monday 21st June, the Government hopes to remove all legal limits on social contact. Find out more here.
Vaccinations
Just because you have had COVID-19 doesn't mean you can't get it again. The next time it could be worse. The vaccine is the only way to get a high level of protection and keep yourself and others safe. Please #KeepDoingYourBit and get the jab when it's your turn.
If you're aged 25 or over, or if you turn 25 before 1st July 2021, you can now book your COVID-19 vaccine.
To combat new and more infectious variants of COVID-19, second vaccine appointments for over 50s are being brought forward from around 12 weeks to 8 weeks. Depending on where you had your first vaccine, the NHS or your GP will be in touch to re-arrange.
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Money & Work
Reconnect With The City
Subscribe to the Council’s email newsletter Welcome Back for the latest information on what you can get up to in the city as it reopens.
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Festival Of Libraries
Join Manchester City of Literature for the very first Festival of Libraries, a brand new celebration of Greater Manchester’s 133 libraries! It features a vibrant programme of free online and in-person events, showcasing the diversity of libraries in our city. This includes a family Sunday Funday at Central Library on Sunday 13th June. Find out how to pre-book for this event and other family activities on this festival webpage.
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If the Government Roadmap continues as planned, Manchester libraries will be open for later and longer from the 21st June. In most cases, they’ll be open on the same days and times as before the pandemic. Find current opening hours here.
Explore Manchester - Second Issue
With the help of 4CT Limited, Manchester Parent Carer Forum have created Explore Manchester, a newsletter about local museums and cultural places, including suggestions from parents. Download the second edition.
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Hulme's Hidden Gem
The Hulme area has a hidden gem - the sensory gardens at Manchester Metropolitan University’s Birley Campus. The Birley Sustainable Trail has herb beds, fruit trees and a wetland area, plus educational information about the environment on the campus. It's free and you can wander around as you like!
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Just a short walk away is urban oasis Hulme Community Garden Centre, with gifts and plant sales. Thanks to parent carer Jordan Navarro for the photographs.
Tell us about your hidden gems! Get in touch with Ali at ali.davenport@manchester.gov.uk.
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Foundation 92 are offering free SEND-inclusive multi-sports sessions for Greater Manchester 16-24 year olds every Tuesday, 12 noon-2pm, at Albert Park Stadium, Salford. There are also free football sessions at the site for children aged 5-16 with a visual impairment/blind every Thursday 5-6pm. Email lee.wallis@foundation92.co.uk for more information.
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The Down’s Syndrome Association has a new live Pilates session, free and open to all, including parents and carers. Find out more and sign up to other DSEngage activity sessions here.
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There are still some free activities for this year’s Carers Week, 7th – 13th June! Find the timetable and booking details here.
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There are two weekly wellbeing walks in Wythenshawe led by Thrive Mcr who recently offered the Autistic Support Walks in the Easter holidays: Wednesdays 11am, meet outside The Northern Den (M22 4HB); Fridays 10.30am, meet outside Wythenshawe Hall. Get in touch with Chantel to let her know you are interested and to find out more: chantel@thrivemanchester, phone/text 07859 832533. Keep up to date with Thrive Mcr activities on Facebook.
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Manchester's Community Development Initiative (CDI) offer a low-cost counselling service for individuals who are experiencing mental health issues or couples with relationship problems. They have limited free counselling for people who are unemployed. Bilingual counselling is available in Urdu and Punjabi. Counselling sessions are mainly via videocall but they also offer some face-to-face work. To arrange counselling, please download the referral form and send to cdi256@gmail.com
The eviction ban has now expired, meaning landlords can take enforcement action. If you're struggling with rent, it's important to seek help early. Call Citizens Advice Manchester free on 0808 278 7800 or see their website for other ways to get in touch. Manchester City Council can help you if you are at risk of losing your home.
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At a recent parliamentary enquiry into child poverty, Contact’s Campaign’s Manager Una Summerson urged that disabled children should be included in any measures, targets or plans around child poverty. She also highlighted the impact that the pandemic and benefit cuts are having on families with disabled children.
Join Anna Kennedy ambassador Paul Isaacs on Thursday 24th June for a free online workshop Autism and Information Processing, starting at 11am. More here.
As a result of high demand, Autism a Hands On Approach are repeating their Gender Identity and Autism workshop on July 5th, 10.30am. £20, find out more.
The Disabled Living Collective is a free week-long virtual event featuring over 50 of the most prestigious and award-winning companies demonstrating their equipment, products and highlighting their services. It’s open to all - register here.
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The Crisp Sandwich Cafe
Autistic young people (aged 14-24) are invited to take part in the development of a unique immersive dance experience looking at the climate crisis. The Crisp Sandwich Café will have tables and chairs around a main performance space, where Kev and Jen will share stories about themselves, the cafe and its visitors, all linked in some way to our relationship to the planet. There will be two performances a day between Monday 9th to Wednesday 11th August at Kimpton Clocktower Hotel in the city centre. These will be 30 minutes long with 10 minutes beforehand to get used to the space and a chance to give feedback afterwards if people can stay.
It will be autism-friendly throughout, with information a week before – including a story of getting there and a visual story of what will happen in the performance – and being met by an Autism Keyworker on arrival. The performances are for either for single groups of young people accompanied by their group leader/s or up to 8 autistic young people accompanied by carers/family/friends. Find out more and register interest. The project involves Matthew Rawcliffe from Wythenshawe who was a grand finalist in BBC Young Dancer 2019.
Free Traineeship
Foundation 92, the official charity partner of Salford City FC, has a unique traineeship combining sport and education. It’s for 16-24 year olds who are not in education, employment or training and includes work placements in the industry and skills workshops with guest speakers. They’ve had nine graduates with special educational needs and disabilities and welcome applications from young people with additional needs. While courses are delivered in Salford, Little Hulton and Bury, it’s open to young people in Manchester and each site is accessible by public transport. The next course is due to start on Monday 14th June but people can enrol throughout the month. The one after begins on September 13th. There is also a pre-programme at Broomwood in Trafford which people are encouraged to attend depending on level of need. To register interest or find out how a young person can be supported to take part, please email sian.godwyn@foundation92.co.uk or call her on 07596 324930.
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Nature Camp Opportunity
Manchester young people aged 12-16 have a chance to spend a week in a summer nature camp in the Peak District. Action for Conservation camps, run by a team of educators and experts, offer young people a life-changing opportunity to connect with nature, explore the outdoors and learn how to protect our environment. Find out more and how to apply. Closing date: Sunday 13th June at midnight.
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Rising Stars Fund
We Love MCR Charity aims to improve the lives and life chances of individuals and communities across Manchester. The Manchester’s Rising Stars Fund supports ambitious, talented, young people aged 16 to 24 years old to achieve their potential. Read the Grant Guidance and apply using this form.
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