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Our next drop in is on Wednesday 12th October 10am-12 noon at the Moss Side Powerhouse. It’s a chance to meet services and ask your SEND-related questions, including education, travel, stuff to do and Early Help. You can also chat with Manchester Parent Carer Forum (MPCF), Manchester Parent Champions and other parent carers.
Future dates - 10am-12 noon:
Wednesday 16th November, Woodhouse Park Lifestyle Centre, Wythenshawe
Wednesday 14th December, Manchester Youth Zone, Harpurhey
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Have Your Say - Last Chance!
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It's your last chance to have a say on the draft Home To School Transport policies. You can read the draft policies, including a summary, and have your say through the Manchester City Council website. There is also information on MPCF's website. Please share your feedback by 10th October.
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New Council Advice Line
Manchester City Council has a new Cost of Living Advice Line. It offers help around benefits and rent, debt and paying bills, food support, and getting online. Call freephone 0800 023 2692, 9am to 4.30pm, Monday to Friday. There is access to a language line for residents whose first language isn’t English. Sign Video is also available. There is a contact form on this Council webpage about the advice line as an alternative way of getting in touch.
Manchester City Council’s Helping Hands Hub has various information, including financial support, food banks and free school meals.
Help With Getting Digital
As the cost of living crisis continues, Manchester City Council's Digital Inclusion team can support residents in getting online. The service offers free telephone support to people who have internet at home but don’t have the skills or confidence to use it effectively. Text 07860 064128 or email digitalinclusion@manchester.gov.uk. From 17th October, free data sims will be available from all Manchester Libraries or by contacting the team. Low-cost devices are available from the team’s partners: https://shop.communitycomputers.co.uk/. To boost your digital skills, there are many locations across the city offering free classes and drop-ins - see the directory and search by postcode or ward to find your nearest class. Find out more on www.letsgetdigitalmanchester.com.
Guidance From Contact
National charity Contact has shared a response to the recent mini-Budget. You can also find cost of living advice for families with disabled children on their website. Last month, they ran a busy Q&A session about how to claim the higher rate mobility (HRM) components of Disability Living Allowance for eligible children. Here are the top 5 questions. You can read them all in Contact’s private Facebook group.
FREE GIVEAWAY! Contact are giving away £3,750 worth of weighted blankets and lap pads. Enter on the Fledglings shop website. Closes 9th October.
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Low-income Support Payments
The second instalment of a £650 payment for those on means-tested benefits will be paid between 8 and 23 November. The £324 payment follows an earlier payment of £326 that eligible families should have received in July.
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Support For Older Carers
THRIVE at Talbot House provides support to older parent carers of adults with learning disabilities. It helps with many aspects of care, including future care planning, form filling and emotional wellbeing. Find out more on the Talbot House website.
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Brew, Toast & Chat In Wythenshawe
Bob into Benchill Community Centre on Thursdays 1-2pm (term time) for Brew, Toast & Chat. It's a chance for adults looking after children with SEND to support each other. Children welcome! The contact is Colette on 07853 841290, colette@thrivemanchester.org.uk.
You're also invited to join the free Public Living Room that Thrive Mcr run at the centre beforehand, Thursdays 11am-1pm. All welcome!
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Alex Foundation Update
In the last issue, we shared information about The Alex Foundation’s parent carers group. This has moved venue and time and is now at Gorton Methodist Church M18 8LJ on Thursdays 11am-2pm.To find out more, call 07411 496555 or email info@alexfoundation.org.uk.
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Skate-boarding & Music-making
The free music-making and skateboarding sessions are back at Projekts skatepark near Piccadilly Station. It's a chance for young people to enjoy an hour of skateboard coaching, followed by an hour of music-making with Billy and Andy who offer accessible music workshops. The sessions run throughout the autumn every Friday 4.30-6.30pm. Families are welcome to hang out in the cafe or watch the skateboarders from the viewing balcony. To book places, contact info@billyandandy.co.uk, 07429 826053. Part of the SEND Community Offer.
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New Youth Club At Powerhouse
There is a new youth club at Moss Side Powerhouse for young people with additional needs aged 10 to 25. This Is Us is on Tuesdays 5.30-7.30pm. It’s a safe space to develop social and emotional skills whilst having fun and includes sports, music, art, cooking and LEGO. Parent carers are asked to stay for an hour in the first session, completing a form which helps to set outcomes for their young person. One parent said: 'I found the initial session very thorough and professional, with staff keen to understand my child….This inspires confidence in me as a parent using this service. It does not matter here that your child is different, they are free to be accepted as they are’. Please let Andrea Nelson, the Youth Club Lead, know at least 48 hours in advance if you are coming for the first time - admin@senseservices.org.
Free Wellbeing Group
There’s a free wellbeing group for young people aged 14-25 with SEND to help them learn, play, build new friendships, gain confidence and improve their wellbeing. It’s run by the charity Kids and is on Monday evenings 6-8pm at 422 Community Hub, M12 4EX in the Longsight/Ardwick area. Activities include arts and crafts, cooking, healthy living and having a say. Contact Kerry on kerry.hassanpour@kids.org.uk or 07815 922910.
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SEND Family Swims
Join the Inclusive Swims at Moss Side Leisure Centre on Sundays 9-11.30am. These provide a calm environment for children and young people with special needs and disabilities. Families can access the small pool and floats for family fun or use the main pool for lane swimming. It’s the same price as the casual swimming. Book via the website, by visiting the leisure centre, or through the BetterUK App which can be downloaded from Google Play or the Apple App Store. Families can also turn up on the day but may miss out if the session is full.
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There is free swimming for under 17s in the city during the school holidays - see the Manchester Active website or Wythenshawe Forum's own webpage.
Free Family Fun Day
There is a free Z-access Family Fun Day at the Zion Centre in Hulme on Sunday 23rd October, 11am. This Fairy Tales themed day offers a safe and welcoming environment for families with disabilities and additional requirements. There will be drama, dance, music and art and crafts as well as a sensory space, a time-out space and a BSL interpreter. Tickets are free but booking is required.
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Manchester's Latest Park
Manchester has its first new city centre park in a century. Mayfield Park opened in September and is 6. 5-acre parkland with 142 trees, 120,000 shrubs and plants and a kids’ play zone with 6 slides, all woven around the River Medlock. Take a look at the park's website and plan your visit.
The October half term holiday is coming up. There'll be some free activities as part of the SEND Community Offer. Look out for our newsletter! In the meantime, check out Loads To Do for activities in the city centre and near you.
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Covid Boosters & Flu Vaccines
Manchester residents are being urged to take up the Autumn Covid booster offer and the flu vaccination to avoid the potential of catching both viruses at once. If you’re eligible for both vaccines, you may be offered them in the same appointment. It is safe to receive both vaccines at the same time. Not all providers will be able to offer this though, so you may need separate appointments. (Community Pharmacies are generally offering the two together.)
Frequently Asked Questions - the Covid booster and the flu vaccine.
For any further questions, Manchester has a free advice line with medically trained staff - 0800 840 3858 (or text 07890 036 892). It’s open five days a week from 9am to 5pm, with a translation service available.
If you’re struggling to get to an appointment, see this information on Manchester JabCab, a free service to selected sites.
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Kidz To Adultz North
Kidz to Adultz North 2022 is back in Manchester, Tuesday 1st November, 9.30am-4.30pm at Manchester Central. This free event has over 180 exhibitors offering advice and information on equipment, products, services, funding and more. See the Disabled Living website to register.
Christmas Lights Congratulations
![Christmas lights](https://content.govdelivery.com/attachments/fancy_images/UKMANCHESTER/2022/10/6529272/4356804/christmas-lights_crop.jpg) Earlier in the year, we shared news about a Christmas Lights Competition as part of Manchester’s Our Year, celebrating the city’s children and young people. We’re delighted to announce there are 3 winners from Manchester Parent Champions families. Congratulations Eden Cody Sweeney-Nolan, Chase Yates Moran, and Loui Adams-Finn! We look forward to seeing your winning designs turned into illuminated motifs on Cathedral Walk for the city’s festive displays!
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