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SEND Community Offer

Trips To The Lion King

As part of the SEND Community Offer, we have free tickets for The Lion King at the Palace Theatre. We know this will be popular, so we are doing it as a draw. If your name is selected, you will get four tickets for a 7.30pm performance on Wednesday 4th, Tuesday 10th or Wednesday 11th January 2023 (7pm arrival to receive tickets). If you live in the Manchester City Council area, text your name and the word LION to 07749 116211 by 6pm on Monday 19th December. One entry per family. The SPACE Group will be doing a live draw, filling up the seats in date order. Successful families will hear by Christmas Eve. If you get tickets and you are unable to go, we ask that you let The SPACE Group know rather than giving them to family and friends. We want as many Manchester SEND families as possible to have this treat!

Winter Holiday Family Fun 

There are fun events coming up over the winter holidays with Manchester Parent Carer Forum (MPCF):

Christmas Party at the Moss Side Powerhouse - Sunday 18th December, 2-4pm. Places need to be booked – use this Christmas party link, due to go live.

Family Bowling at TenPin Manchester, Printworks - Friday 23rd December, 11am-12 noon. Please book through the Family Bowling event link, due to go live.

Fairy Tales & Family Fun Day at Z-Arts, Hulme - Wednesday 28th December, 1-3.30pm. Places need to be booked – use this Fairy Tales link, due to go live later this week.

Family Fun Day at the People’s History Museum - Thursday 29th December, 10am-4.30pm. This is a drop in event at the museum. Find out more about it using this Family Fun Day link, due to go live later this week.

You can also find out more about these events - for SEND families living in the city - on the MPCF Facebook page. They are part of the SEND Community Offer and supported by 4CT and Our Year.

Christmas Cycling 

Simply Cycling are offering free outdoor sessions with their range of adapted bikes – plus warming hot chocolate and cookies.

• Monday 19th, 10am-2pm, Boggart Hole Clough
• Tuesday 20th, 9am-3pm, Wythenshawe Park Athletics Track (parking at the track, off Wythenshawe Road)

Just drop in on the day. Find out more about Simply Cycling and their regular sessions on their website. This activity is for Manchester SEND families.

Winter Family Forest School

The SEND Winter Family Forest School is back in Platt Fields Market Garden, off Mabfield Road entrance to the park. It’s every day from Monday 19th to Thursday 22nd December, 10am-3pm, with lunch around 12 noon. This free stay-and-play style activity offers a warm welcome for all ages, including sensory play in the mud kitchen and sand pit, den building and seasonal nature crafts. It’s a drop in but please book with Manchester Bees Forest School using this form:

https://forms.gle/tAYvw8iGp3FZh3XB8. Please assume you have a place. You’ll be contacted if you are on the waiting list. If you can’t make the session on the day, let Siân know on 07506 342945 or hello@manchesterbeesforestschool.co.uk. Your places can be offered to another family. Manchester families only.

Sensory Rooms

Families have free use of the Sensory Room at Benchill Community Centre in Wythenshawe before Christmas. Each slot is for 45 minutes and on the hour, Monday 19th December to Thursday 22nd December 10am-4pm and Friday 23rd December 10am-2pm. Call the community centre on 0161 946 9520 to book. Manchester families only. 

The Sensory Rooms at Redbank House in Cheetham Hill are back in the run up to Christmas. Free slots are available at various times between 9am-4pm (on the hour for 50 minutes) during weekdays from Monday 19th to Friday 23rd December. Manchester families only. Book directly with Redbank House on 0161 214 5959 or email info@redbankhouse.com.

Activity Sessions

Young people aged 11-18 with SEND are invited to join Groundwork at Crumpsall Visitors Centre, Crumpsall Park, every Thursday evening 5-7pm (except Thursday 29th December). The Christmas fun includes arts and crafts, games and indoor sports. These free sessions run until the end of March. If you have any questions, please get in touch with Carlos on 07739 978798.

Family Christmas Cook Off

The Community Kitchen is back with a Family Christmas Cook Off! It’s on Monday 19th and Wednesday 21st December, 3.30-6.30pm, with space for 2/3 families, (max. 4 places per family). These popular sessions are for young people with SEND and/or social emotional and mental health needs (SEMH) who come with their families to cook and eat together. A Caribbean festive meal is on the menu. Not everyone has join in the cooking but parents/carers are expected to stay on site. It’s at Procter Learning Centre, Hulme Street, Off Jackson Crescent M15 5EF. Manchester SEND families only. Booking essential - call Roger on 07970 922132. Enter through the main gate next to the silver van where parking is available.

Skateboarding & Music-making

There is an Open Day at Projekts skatepark near Piccadilly Station on Tuesday 20th December. Drop in any time between 1.30-4.30pm. It’s for young with people with SEND aged 11-18 who live in the city of Manchester and is a chance to skateboard and make a bit of music - siblings can join in the fun too. Families are welcome to hang out in the cafe during the sessions or watch the skateboarders from the viewing balcony. Get warm with hot drinks and mince pies!

The usual FLIP sessions are back in the new year but with a change to Tuesday evenings instead of Friday, 4.30-6.30pm, starting on 10th January. To book places, contact info@billyandandy.co.uk, 07429 826053.

There is free swimming for under 17s in the city during the school holidays - see this Manchester Active information or Wythenshawe Forum's website.

Join the SEND family swims at Moss Side Leisure Centre on Sundays 9-11.30am. 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.

Christmas In The City

Manchester is in the Christmas spirit with a series of free Festive Sundays in the city centre. See Visit Manchester for times and locations. There are also free children’s events at the Arndale Centre in the run up to the big day.

For more events in the city centre and near you over the Christmas season, check out Loads To Do.

Our Drop Ins

Our next drop in is on Wednesday 14th December 10am-12 noon at Manchester Youth Zone, Harpurhey, in the north of the city. It’s a chance to meet a range of services and ask your SEND-related questions. You can also chat with Manchester Parent Carer Forum (MPCF), Manchester Parent Champions and other parent carers.

Future dates - 10am-12 noon:

Wednesday 11th January, Moss Side Powerhouse

Wednesday 8th February, Woodhouse Park Lifestyle Centre, Wythenshawe

Cost Of Living Support

As we go deeper into winter, it might be helpful to know what’s available locally. This could be community meals, free activities, food and clothing banks, or financial advice. Winter guides have been produced for each area of the city. You can find them on the Manchester Local Care Organisation website.

There is also the support through Manchester City Council’s free cost of living advice line. It’s open Monday to Friday 9am-4.30pm on 0800 023 2692.You can also text on 07860 022 876. Please ask if you would like translations or Sign Video services. There is more information on a range of support and services in the cost of living crisis hub.

The Warm Home Discount Scheme rules have changed in England and Wales for winter 2022/23. Eligible families will now receive a letter at some point between November and January telling them about the scheme. Find out more from Contact.

Over the Christmas holidays, there are places where kids can eat for free (or for a £1). See Money Saving Centre.

Other News

Have Your Say

Are you a carer for someone over 16 with learning disabilities? We encourage your young person, and you, to have a say in the Health & Social Care Commissioning Strategy for Manchester adults aged 16+ with learning disabilities. It’s a five-year plan (2023-2028) around services in the city, like short term care, short breaks, GPs and hospitals or friendship groups in the community. There’s an online survey or you can get a paper copy by emailing LDfeedback@manchester.gov.uk. You can also do the survey over the phone with a friendly support worker - call 0161 834 6069 and select option 9, 10am-5pm Monday to Friday. If it’s easier, you can email views directly to LDfeedback@manchester.gov.uk. There are two main questions: What is good about services? What could be better? Find out more on the Manchester City Council website. Thank you for any contribution you can make – it all counts!

Have your say on Manchester City Council’s budget proposals 2023/4. Your views will help shape the decisions around savings and council tax increases. Runs until 7th January 2023.

Easy Read Flu Jab Booklet

There is a new easy read booklet for people in Greater Manchester with learning disabilities – Why you need your flu jab. Further easy read material can be found on this national website. As an alternative, there is this video by Manchester People First. If people can’t tolerate needles, the flu vaccine can sometimes be given by nasal vaccination - speak to GP.

Carers Support

If you’re feeling isolated during the winter months and want to meet other carers for a cuppa and a chat, there are plenty of groups available across the city.   See Carers Manchester events page.

TogetherTrust’s next coffee morning is on Friday 16th December from 10am-12pm. The free drop in includes a presentation from specialist sleep practitioners on Sleep Support at Christmas time. It’s at TogetherTrust, Schools Hill, Cheadle SK8 1JE and all are welcome. See the flyer for more information and future dates.

The Caribbean & African Health Network run a number of free and culturally appropriate sessions:    Family & Advocacy Sessions – Virtual sessions on the second Wednesday of the month with different speakers each time, as well as Q&As with CAHN’s Advocacy Officers, covering topics like housing, immigration, employment and social services.  Home Office Drop In - Virtual immigration sessions every other month without fear of enforcement. It is your choice whether you switch on your camera, provide your real name or give any information at all. Legal Drop In - Virtual drop ins every other month to inform and advise the community on legal issues. Find out more about CAHN’s work, including their domestic and sexual violence support, on their website.

News In Brief

Young siblings can sometimes feel that things at home are focused on their disabled brother or sister. Sibs has a specially written page for young siblings aged 7-17 to let them know they aren’t alone.

RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) is one of the most common viral causes of coughs and colds in winter. It’s highly infectious and the main cause of breathing difficulties (bronchiolitis) in young children. Contact have compiled helpful questions and answers around this subject. 

‘This Is My Christmas’ is a short festive film from 53two and TripleC, with a concept by Gemma Lees, exploring the idea that Christmas can be different for everyone but still gives the same joy. (Audio described version.)

Young Carers Congratulations

The Young Carers ‘Support Not Sympathy’ music project recently won the Made In Manchester award at the Manchester Cultural Awards. Congratulations to everyone involved! Watch the winning film on You Tube.

You find resources for Manchester young carers on the Manchester City Council website.

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