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Our next Local Offer Drop On is on Wednesday 14th September, 10am-12 noon at Manchester Youth Zone in Harpurhey. It’s a chance to meet services and ask your SEND-related questions, including education, Short Breaks (not Reviews) and Early Help. You can also chat with Manchester Parent Carer Forum, Manchester Parent Champions, and the SPACE group, based in north Manchester. We’ll be sending out more information early next week. Look out for it in your inbox!
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Have Your Say On School Transport
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Following the engagement sessions looking into Manchester’s Home to School Transport service earlier this year, Manchester City Council would like to hear what you and your young people think about the reviewed policies. There are some key changes, including: removing the need for annual reapplication, separating post-16 and 5-16 years into separate policies, and offering a wider range of travel solutions.
You can read the draft policies and have your say through the Manchester City Council website. Please share your feedback by 10th October.
There is also a Virtual Consultation Session being hosted by Manchester Parent Carer Forum on Monday 12th September, 6-7pm. See Eventbrite to register. The hope is to offer one or two more consultation sessions – we’ll keep you posted.
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Hatch Programme
Hatch is an employability programme aimed at Young People aged 16 to 24 who are ready to enter the workplace but just need a little extra support. Run in partnership with UK Youth and The KFC Foundation, young people attend pre-employability workshops and then four weeks of work experience. After completing the programme, they are given a £500 grant and an opportunity to have a real interview at KFC. Hatch are now recruiting for the final programme of the year, starting on Monday 3rd October. To sign up or for any questions, contact Joe Webster at joe.webster@gmyn.co.uk or 07396 519052. There have been great responses from young people who have taken part so far, with many going on to gain employment with KFC or building their confidence and skills to pursue employment elsewhere.
Two Schemes From Scope
Starting Line
Starting Line is a 7-week group course covering a range of modules in pre-employability skills combined with 1-to-1 tailored support and guidance. Participants can expect to finish with goal setting skills, an updated and improved CV, interview skills, sector specific job search knowledge, and guidance on how to talk about their disability / health condition. It’s most suited to young people aged 16 and over who haven't worked before or not worked for a long time. Visit www.scope.org.uk/starting-line and complete the online form.
Kickstart
Kickstart is aimed at young people who have recently worked, have a consistent work history, and feel ready to work. It focuses on employment goals and offers 1-to-1 support for up to 6 months. Visit www.scope.org.uk/kickstart and complete the online form.
Call For Neurodivergent Creatives
There’s an opportunity for neurodivergent creatives aged 18+ to have their work published in a book called Changeling Annual for children around 8-12 years old. It’s a project from poet Emmy Clarke as part of Contact Theatre's Future Fire scheme. Submissions run to November 1st and contributors will be paid £5 and receive a physical copy of the collection. Find out more on the Changeling Annual website.
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Paranetball Fun
 Last year, a new Paranetball Club started in Gorton. The sessions are still going strong – and are still free! The club takes place on the first Saturday of each month, 10-11am, and involves netball skills and fun games aimed at deaf and disabled young people under 25. The club is open to girls and boys, as well as siblings, and is at Wright Robinson Sports College. There’s a great group of participants and volunteer coaches, including a deaf coach. See the Dominoes Netball Club website for more information and how to book – next session Saturday 1st October.
New Venue For Youth Club
‘Our Space’ youth group has moved to a new venue. It now meets at Benchill Community Centre in Wythenshawe on Fridays, 5.30-7pm. The club is for 5 to 16 year olds with additional needs and is a place where they can be themselves. For more information, contact Jo on jo_chloe@hotmail.com or 07715 563334.
Free Saturdays At Treetop Trek
Treetop Trek, the aerial adventure located at Heaton Park, is offering an hour of free adventure on its Treetop Nets activity to local families every Saturday morning during the month of September. To qualify, families must be residents in the following neighbouring Manchester postcodes, M25, M24, M8, M9, M45, M6, M7 and M27, and bring along proof of address, such as a utility bill. The offer is open to families with at least one child of school age. Call the Treetop bookings team on 015394 47186 and receive up to 4 tickets per booking. This has been created by the Treetop team as a gesture to those who are feeling the effects of the cost-of-living crisis and the pandemic which has left many families no longer able to enjoy adventurous days out together.
Getting Active
Greater Manchester Physical Activity Referral Service (PARS) offer a free 10-week programme for children and young people aged 5-17, connecting them with inclusive sports and activities in their local neighbourhood. They can also provide your family with simple tips and advice on how to eat healthy and improve your lifestyle. They welcome children and young people with SEND who are identified as being above a healthy weight. Speak to a health professional at your GP practice, check out the website, or contact PARS for more information - juniorpars@more-life.co.uk or 0161 511 0300.
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In last week’s newsletter, we had a special section around Cost of Living Support. This included support through Manchester City Council, dealing with energy costs, and benefits and finance advice. Find the newsletter here.
TOMORROW! Some disabled children can qualify for DLA Higher Rate Mobility even if they do not physically struggle to walk. Eligibility rules are complex, so Contacts' team will host a special Q&A for parent carers on Thursday 8th September 10–11.30am in their closed Facebook group. See Contact’s website for more information and relevant links.
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Around 6 million disabled people in the UK will receive their one-off £150 disability Cost of Living payment from 20th September. See the Government website for information.
Together for Short Lives, Contact, Scope and other organisations representing disabled children and their families, have written to the Government calling for urgent action to address the mounting hardship facing families caring for seriously ill and disabled children. It calls for an emergency uprating of benefits in line with current inflation rates, which should come into effect in Autumn.
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Training & Learning
Autism Awareness Webinar
There’s a free Autism Awareness Webinar for all staff and parent carers in Manchester, co-delivered with autistic trainers. Join Autizma on Tuesday 20th September 10am-12 noon or 1-3pm or Thursday 5th October 10am-12 noon or 1-3pm. Register on this Autizma events page. Don’t worry if you can’t attend, registration gives you access to the recording and post-presentation resources.
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Autism Seminars
Greater Manchester Autism Consortium (GMAC) offers a range of free seminars to support parents and young people. Check out their events page for the latest sessions.
Contact's Early Years Workshops
Contact, the national charity, have a range of free training for parents of disabled children aged 0-5, including sleep, speech and language, and early years entitlements.
Carers Manchester Training
Covid Update
The NHS has launched its autumn booster programme and will begin inviting eligible people, with those most at risk being invited first. This includes: people aged five and over in a clinical risk group, including those on their GP Learning Disability Register; people aged five and over who live with someone who is immunosuppressed; unpaid carers aged 16 and above; and all adults aged 50 and over. Appointments are booked via the National Booking Service. Please wait to receive your invitation before making an appointment. Contact has a FAQ page about the vaccination programme. There is also this latest blog post from Carers Manchester with local information, including support in getting to appointments.
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Equipment & Products
Kidz to Adultz North is back in Manchester - Tuesday 1st November, Manchester Central, 9.30am-4.30pm. The event - with over 180 exhibitors - is dedicated to children and young adults with disabilities and additional needs, their parents, carers and the professionals who support them. Register for free.
Guide Dogs Tech for All pilot scheme is open for applications. This year, they have 2500 free iPad’s to allocate to children aged 3-18 with proof of vision impairment (professional/CVI). Families can find out more information and apply for a device via the website.
Contact have a non-profit shop with a range of specialist clothes, toys and sensory products, including a Back To School section.
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Get On Board
Simple and clear low bus fares are now available in Greater Manchester:
- Adults will pay no more than £2 for a single bus journey, while a £5 one day AnyBus Adult travelcard will cover unlimited bus travel within Greater Manchester until 03.59am the following day.
- Children aged 5 to 16 will pay no more than £1 for any single bus journey. The one day AnyBus Junior travelcard will cover unlimited bus travel within Greater Manchester for £2.50 a day.
Children under the age of five will continue to travel on buses for free. Find out more and plan your journey at Get On Board.
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