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Easter SEND Community Offer |
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During the Easter holidays, there will be lots of free activities for Manchester children and young people with SEND and their families. There’ll be cooking, bowling, relaxed cinema, Easter parties, museum activity days and much more. Look out for our Easter Special newsletter in your inboxes early next week!
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Our next Drop In at Manchester Youth Zone in Harpurhey is on a different day of the week than usual! It’s Tuesday 18th April instead of a Wednesday, starting at 10am. It also runs for longer – until 12.30pm. We hope the change of day gives some of you the opportunity to come and join us.
Our Drop Ins are aimed at parent/carers living in the Manchester City Council area. If you live in other parts of Greater Manchester, search for ‘Local Offer’ with the name of your Council area to see what is available.
FUTURE DATES:
Wednesday 24th May, Hideout Youth Zone, Gorton
Wednesday 21st June, Woodhouse Park Lifestyle Centre, Wythenshawe
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Quiet Sundays At The Whitworth
Quiet Sundays are multi-sensory, open-ended family play sessions every last Sunday of the month at the Whitworth Art Gallery. They are designed for a quieter experience, with children leading the way in their own time and at their own pace. Held in the School of Creativity space, they are free and there’s no need to book, just come along any time between 10.30am and 12.30pm. The next one is Sunday 26th March. Find out more on The Whitworth website.
The gallery has open-ended play all the time in their School of Creativity. Find out more about visiting the gallery in their access information.
Lego Fun
The next Lego Club at Central Library is on Saturday 8th April, 2-4pm. You can also pop into your local library to find out when they have their Lego Club. Find more activities in the latest Children & Family News From Libraries.
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AMPS & RAMPS
Billy & Andy’s Music School are putting together three bands! There’ll be free tuition, coaching and rehearsals to get ready for a final gig at Projekts Skatepark. It’s for disabled or neurodivergent young people aged 16-25. Musical experience isn’t necessary and there’ll be a range of accessible instruments. Billy and Andy are holding an open day at Gorse Hill Studios, Stretford, on 8th April at 2pm. Email info@billyandandy.co.uk or call 07429 826053 to book.
There are also a few places left on Billy & Andy’s free Music Club in the Easter holidays. It’s Tuesday 11th to Friday 14th April at the Sharon Church, 118 Chorlton Road, M15 4AN. While it’s aimed at 16+, they can be flexible on the ages.
Free First Aid
Come and join Manchester Young Jubilee Champions and Cooksons First Aid for a free First Aid workshop. It’s for young people with SEND age 11+ and is this Sunday 26th March, 12 noon, at Manchester Youth Zone, Harpurhey. Parents/carers can join in too. Booking essential on 07423 264796.
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Co-production Workshop - Tomorrow!
You're invited to join an event tomorrow - Manchester Inclusion Toolkit: Co-producing a Parent/Carer Information Guide, Thursday 23rd March, 10-11.30am at St Thomas Centre in Ardwick. It’s with OneEducation and Manchester Parent Carer Forum and is about sharing your ideas for a guide to help parent/carers understand the Inclusion Toolkit and how they can use it to work with Manchester schools to support the inclusion of their child. Find out more and book your place through Eventbrite.
Tell Us About Your Experiences
There’s still time to have your say in the annual Manchester SEND survey! Manchester Parent Carer Forum invite you to share your experiences of the different services that relate to your child's or young person's special educational needs and/or disabilities. It’ll take around 15 minutes to answer and you’ll be entered into a raffle for a chance to win £30 vouchers. Here's the survey: https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/mcr-send-survey-2022 Thank you!
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What Do You Think Of The Website?
How can Manchester City Council make it easier for you to use their website? Tell them what works well and what doesn't work well so they can make it better for you. Have your say by completing the survey.
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Interactive Session
Manchester Parent Carer Forum are hosting a Dynamic Support Register (DSR) Interactive Session with Parents & Carers, Thursday 30th March, 9.30am-12.30pm at Parkway Business Centre, 3 Princess Road, Fallowfield M14 7LU. DSR is an essential tool that brings together multi-agency partners, providing appropriate support and care at the right time so children and young people can lead the lives they want to and stay healthy in the community. This session will provide information about NHS England’s DSR directive and new policy, including the plans to launch this in Manchester. Lunch and refreshments provided. Find out more and book through Eventbrite.
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World Autism Day Event
Equal Education Chances are hosting an Understanding Autism Seminar on 5th April, 10am at EEC Community Hub, BizSpace Wilsons Park, Monsall Road, Manchester, M40 8WN. It’s with the Greater Manchester Autism Consortium and is about improving knowledge and understanding of autism, communication, sensory needs and behaviour management. Whether you are a parent, caregiver, educator, healthcare provider, or simply interested in learning more about autism, this seminar is the perfect opportunity to expand your knowledge and connect with others in the community. It’s a free event, so places will be going fast. Book using the Eventbrite link. Any questions or queries to equaleducationchances@gmail.com.
A Spring Break With Carefree
Carefree offer low-cost short breaks in the UK for unpaid carers. After registering with them, you can browse the options and submit a request for a hotel on specific dates. Hotels donate 1-2 night breaks in a twin or double room, plus breakfast where possible, for you and a companion (adult or child). There’s no charge for accommodation, just a £25 admin fee to help with the cost of operating their charity. Find out more on the Carefree website.
Cost Of Living Support
In the coming year, each eligible household will receive a means-tested Cost of Living Payment of £900. This will be split into three instalments: £301 Spring 2023, £300 Autumn 2023 and £299 Spring 2024. Each claimant of Personal Independence Payments, Attendance Allowance and Disability Living Allowance will receive the Disability Cost of Living Payment of £150 during summer 2023. All payments will be made automatically. For more updates, see the Carers Manchester Cost of Living Blog.
Don’t forget, Manchester City Council has a free telephone line offering support and advice around benefits and rent, debt and paying bills, food support and help with getting online. Call 0800 023 2692, Monday to Friday, 9am-4.30pm.
News In Brief
- National charity Contact has a non-profit shop – Fledglings – with some exciting new products. This includes adaptive footwear, wheelchair accessories and inclusive sports kits. Find out more at Fledglings.
- If you receive Universal Credit, are over 10 weeks pregnant or have a child under the age of 4, you may be eligible for weekly subsidised healthy food and vitamins. See Healthy Start.
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#Siblife is a Facebook group run by and for adult siblings (18+) of people with lifelong disabilities. It’s a friendly, private space for siblings to chat about the joy, stress and everything in between. Find out about more support groups across the UK on Sibs’ website.
- Harry's Pals offers emotional support in the form of respite breaks, counselling services and parent support groups for families dealing with a child’s diagnosis of a life-limiting illness or disability. Find out more on the Harry’s Pals website.
Are you an Early Years provider?
Manchester is one of the lucky Local Authorities chosen to work on a Dingley’s Promise project, funded by Comic Relief. There’s free SEND training for Early Years providers in the city. Find out more and register on the Dingley’s Promise website.
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