These activities are for families with children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) living in the Manchester City Council area. You need to book though - first come, first served!

Manchester SEND families can try out outdoor water activities at Debdale Outdoor Centre in Gorton this summer. This includes kayaking, raft building and sailing, with food and snacks provided. You’ll need to wear clothes and trainers that you don’t mind getting wet and to bring a full set of spare clothes, footwear and a towel. The minimum age to be on the water is 7 years. Under 7s can watch but will need an adult with them. The sessions are Fridays 4.30-7.30pm on the 13th, 20th, 27th August and 3rd September. Booking essential – call 0161 219 2125, Mon-Fri 10am-4pm.

Over the summer, MANCCYCLES and Greater Manchester Youth Network (GMYN) are offering cycling programmes for young people (12+) who have Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) needs. This exciting opportunity helps build resilience and develop cycling skills in young people of varied ability, supported by a cycling instructor and youth worker. Food is provided, as well as all cycling equipment. Rides take place every Wednesday and Saturday. For more information and to book, contact Roger Newell – 07970 922132, rogerp4i@aol.co.uk or Euan Davies – 07534 466607, euan.davies@gmyn.co.uk.

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 SEND families only - to book your pack, call 0161 219 2125, Mon-Fri 10am-4pm.

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 a free outdoor storytelling session for Manchester SEND families, followed by lunchtime snacks. It's at Heaton Park – Wednesday 4th August, 11am-12 noon, meeting at the Farm Centre courtyard. Booking essential - call 0161 219 2125, Mon-Fri 10am-4pm.

If you've booked on the Wednesday 28th session at Platt Fields, the meeting place is the small playground opposite the lake. It's the cafe for Wythenshawe Park on the 29th.

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. The club runs through Zoom from: Monday 26th to 30th July and Monday 9th to Friday 13th August.

The sessions are from 11am till 1.30pm, with 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. 

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.

Enjoy free two hour sessions of tree-riffic bouncy adventure in the high trees at Heaton Park with Tree Top Trek. Play high up on huge bouncy nets with super-fast slides and aerial walkways. These free special sessions for SEND families living in the city of Manchester take place every Tuesday and Thursday in the summer holidays, 10am-12 noon, age 3 and upwards. See the website for FAQ, including what to wear. 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 and sensory play activities, with refreshments provided. To book, please call 07756 591948 (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.

After another stop-start year of lockdowns and isolations for our children, Manchester City Council have worked with local partners to put together a packed programme of things to do. The city's parks, galleries, libraries, and youth and play services, as well as cultural partners and MCRactive, have pulled out all the stops to help create a fantastic Manchester summer of fun. Visit Loads To Do for your one-stop shop to find out what culture, leisure and sports activities are in the city and near you this summer.

Simply Cycling are running their All Ability Cycling Sessions at Wythenshawe Park, Longford Park and Boggart Hole Clough over the summer holidays. A 45 minute session is £3 per person. Please book online. 

It’s great to welcome back swimming and gyms in Manchester! Facilities will be operating differently to what we’re used to for a while but there’s still a variety of activities to enjoy. Find out what’s on offer by visiting the MCRactive website. All sessions need to be booked in advance online or via the app.

In place of the usual Wythenshawe Games, there’s a free programme of sports and activity at venues around Wythenshawe during the summer holidays. There are activities for all ages, families, children, older people, plus inclusive sports. The Summersonic sessions for young people will also be a part of Wythenshawe Games on the Move. See the website - all sessions must be booked in advance but you can book on as many as you like!

Inclusion Friday is happening every Friday throughout August at Manchester Youth Zone in North Manchester. Young people can engage in a fun-packed afternoon of activities that are creative and inclusive for young people with additional needs or disabilities. Activities include arts and crafts, sports and fitness, cooking and baking, sensory play, rebound therapy and wheelchair basketball. For more information, see the Loads To Do website. MYZ is also offering Inclusion Mountain Biking sessions around various venues in the North West in early August. Find out more here.