These activities are for SEND families living in the Manchester City Council area. They've been put in date order so you can see what is coming up - with activities starting this week! You need to book though - first come, first served.

Join Simply Cycling for an all-ability guided ride and picnic. The activity runs over the summer holidays from Monday 26th July to Thursday 26th August and is for up to 8 Manchester people per ride (additional parent support can be added if needed). Simply Cycling bring bikes that all the family will be able to ride or be supported to ride - including wheelchair accessible bikes and trandems - and the routes will be geared around needs and abilities. The cycling will be at Boggart Hole Clough (North) on Mondays 10am-12.30pm, Longford Park (Central) on Tuesdays 10am-12.30pm and Wythenshawe Park (South) on Wednesdays and Thursdays 1-3.30pm. The rides don’t need to start at these parks as alternative meeting points can be arranged. Booking essential – call 0161 219 2125, Mon-Fri 10am-4pm.

During two weeks of the summer holidays, Billy & Andy's Music School will be running a free virtual music club for young adults with additional needs living in Manchester. Whilst at the club, participants will get the chance to explore song-writing and learn how to use the sounds around them to create beautiful sounding music. The club runs through Zoom from:

• Monday 26th to 30th July
• Monday 9th to Friday 13th August

The sessions will start at 11am and finish at 1.30pm with time for a short break in the middle. Book through Eventbrite. Young people can attend multiple sessions, but they can join as many or as few as they like. Any questions to info@billyandandy.co.uk or 07429 826053. Check out the School on Instagram and Facebook.

On Tuesdays and Wednesdays in the holidays, from 27th July to 25th August, the Community Market Garden in Platt Fields is running special sessions for Manchester SEND families, with nature crafts, gardening and campfires. Sessions are morning and afternoon each day. Booking essential – call 0161 219 2125, Mon-Fri 10am-4pm.

Join free outdoor storytelling sessions for Manchester SEND families, followed by lunchtime snacks:

• Platt Fields – Wednesday 28th July
• Wythenshawe Park – Thursday 29th July
• Heaton Park – Wednesday 4th August

Each session is 11am-12 noon, meeting at the park cafes. The storytellers are from Manchester Libraries in collaboration with Read Manchester. Booking essential - call 0161 219 2125, Mon-Fri 10am-4pm.

Anson Cabin are holding free inclusive play activities for Manchester SEND 5–13 year olds every Friday in the holidays, 10am-12 noon and 1-3pm. Activities include arts and crafts, group games, elemental and sensory play activities, with refreshments provided. To book, please call 07756 591948 and speak to a member of the cabin team (there may be additional sessions available during the week subject to availability). Anson Cabin Project is at 38 Meldon Road, Longsight, Manchester M13 0TR.   

Manchester SEND families can have fun on Heaton Park lake every Monday morning in August. Sessions are every half hour from 10am-12 noon with a choice of swans (four-seater pedalos) and rowing boats (seats four). Booking essential – call 0161 219 2125, Mon-Fri 10am-4pm.

Following the popular visits in the Spring, we’re offering free sessions at the Children's Adventure Farm again! Available slots are:

• Tuesday 3rd August - 10am, 11.30am
• Saturday 7th August - 10am, 11.30am
• Sunday 8th August - 10am
• Thursday 12th August - 3pm
• Sunday 15th August - 10am, 11.30am
• Tuesday 17th August - 10am, 11.30am

The farm is at Reddy Lane, Altrincham WA14 3RE. You need to be able to make your own way there. Booking essential – call 0161 219 2125, Mon-Fri 10am-4pm.

In this doorstep project, Sow the City is sharing free Food Growing and Foraging Activity Packs to help your family engage and connect with nature. Inside you’ll find everything you need to grow tasty and colourful Rainbow Chard at home - seeds, pots, compost pellets, a trowel and gloves. Follow the easy to read information sheet on how to get growing, find out about growing projects to visit in your community, and how to start foraging for wild food in Manchester. For Manchester families only - to book your pack, call 0161 219 2125, Mon-Fri 10am-4pm.

Venture Arts are back this summer with another free, artist-designed box project that contains everything you need to make fun pieces of art at home. This year VA artist Sally Hirst has created a foam mosaic project for SEND families to get involved with over the summer holiday. Sign up for this doorstep project by calling 0161 219 2125, Mon-Fri 10am-4pm.

Manchester Parent Carer Forum have partnered with 4CT Limited to deliver ‘Happy, Active, Healthy SEND Summer Family Packs’ to families in Manchester. They’re like the paper bag sensory and activity kits that many families loved last summer and at Christmas but with an Explore Manchester and health and nutrition twist! Parents or carers of SEND children and young people within Manchester may apply, with those who receive Free School Meals to be given priority. Find out more here and the online application form.

Starling have planned some super-exciting summer workshops for neurodivergent young people aged 13-25 in Trafford, Manchester and Tameside. It’s a chance to try a range of activities run by professional artists, like animation, character creation, comics, digital art, creative writing, music, storytelling, performance, sensory arts, puppet-making and screen printing. The workshops are free and every Thursday in August, with lunch included. Starling will get young people there if they don’t have transport and there’s no pressure – they can take part as much or as little as they like. To find out more send Starling a message 07508 371703 or hello@starlingcio.org.uk - sign up here.

Manchester Art Gallery are re-starting their autism-friendly sessions. Open Doors is a series of creative workshops especially for autistic children and those with other social communication needs, their families and carers. You can get hands on with a variety of making activities, explore the art gallery or just spend time together in the new children’s space, The Lion’s Den. A quiet room is also available. Book via Eventbrite for the sessions are on Tuesday 10th August and Tuesday 24th August. 

You can now book free tickets for The Crisp Sandwich Café, a dance theatre performance for autistic young people. There will be two performances of ‘The Crisp Sandwich Cafe’ each day between Monday 9th to Wednesday 11th August at Kimpton Clocktower Hotel in the city centre. It will be autism-friendly throughout and set up for COVID-safety. The performances are for up to 8 autistic young people accompanied by carers/family/friends or single groups of young people accompanied by their group leader/s. Find out more and book tickets here.