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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. For more information, see our Drop In news bulletin. (Please note, Educational Psychology won’t be at this session.)
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.
Coming up:
Wednesday 24th May, 10am-12.30pm
HideOut Youth Zone, Gorton
Wednesday 21st June, 10am-12.30pm
Woodhouse Park Lifestyle Centre, Wythenshawe
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There’s a lot of information around voting in the local elections on 4th May this year, especially with the new voting photo ID. Here are some things which are helpful to know:
- The Electoral Services Unit at Manchester City Council are working to remove the barriers to voting. If you need materials in particular formats or help with applications, contact 0161 234 1212. There’s also an email address - esu@manchester.gov.uk – but as deadlines are getting close, it is probably better to phone.
- If you vote by post, you don’t need to provide photo ID. The deadline to apply for a postal vote is 5pm on Tuesday 18th April.
- You must be registered to vote by 11.59pm on Monday 17th April. This is for first-time voters or people who have changed their name, address or nationality.
Don’t forget, get in touch with the Electoral Services Unit if you need any support, whether for yourself or a young voter.
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Cycling Opportunity
MANCCYCLES and GMYN are offering an exciting opportunity for Manchester young people aged 11-16 with Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) needs and/or SEND to take part in a weekly cycling project. Riding sessions are every Saturday 11am-3pm, meeting at the Procter Learning Centre, Hulme Street, Off Jackson Crescent M15 5EF. Bikes, helmets and other safety equipment are provided for cycle routes across Greater Manchester, along with regular bike maintenance sessions. All young people take part in a pre-ride induction before attending Saturday rides but need to be competent riders. Contact Roger Newell for more information – info@manccycles.co.uk, 07970 922132, MANCCYCLES. Part of the SEND Community Offer for families living in the Manchester City Council area.
Flip Fun
These free music-making and skateboarding sessions are at Projekts skatepark near Piccadilly Station every Tuesday 4.30-6.30pm. It's a chance for young people with SEND aged 11-25 to enjoy an hour of skateboard coaching, followed by an hour of music-making with Billy and Andy who offer accessible music workshops. Families are welcome to hang out in the cafe during the sessions or watch the skateboarders from the viewing balcony. To book places, email info@billyandandy.co.uk, 07429 826053. Part of the SEND Community Offer for families living in the Manchester City Council area.
SEND Swimming Lessons
North City Family and Fitness Centre have new group SEND swimming lessons on Saturday mornings at 8.30-9am. It’s for children aged 4 and upwards and the parent/carer is allowed to be in the water with the child where needed. From £23 a month. Book using this link:
https://betterflow.courseprogress.co.uk/onlinejoining/home. (Put in ‘Manchester’ as the location and select ‘Swimming’. Press ‘Search’ and this shows you a list of all the leisure centres in Manchester. Select ‘North City Family and Fitness Centre and the filter ‘Saturday’. The ‘Swim School - Foundation – SEND’ session should show towards the top.) If you want to contact anyone in advance of booking, please email: northcity@gll.org.
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Hatch employability programme runs throughout the year. Delivered in partnership with UK Youth and The KFC Foundation, it’s aimed at young people aged 16 to 25 who are ready to enter the workplace but just need a little extra support. Participants complete pre-employability workshops with Greater Manchester Youth Network in the city centre, followed by four weeks of paid work experience (16 hours per week) at KFC or another employer. They will be paid (at least minimum wage) for their placement and have an opportunity to have a real interview at KFC. Start dates are: Group 1 Tuesday 21st March (KFC only), Group 2 Tuesday 25th April, Group 3 Tuesday 6th June, Group 4 Tuesday 18th July, Group 5 Tuesday 29th August, and Group 6 Tuesday 10th October. See the flyer for more information or contact Joe on 07396 519052, joe.webster@gmyn.co.uk.
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Speech & Language Survey
Greater Manchester Combined Authority and Greater Manchester Integrated Care Partnership want to find out more about the speech, language and communication needs of children and young people (0 – 25 years) in Greater Manchester. Thank you for taking the time to complete this survey.
Helpful Videos From Contact
Contact has lots of helpful videos, including a recorded Facebook Live with Dr Lovell who answered questions around medication to help regulate children’s moods or behaviours. Take a look at the charity's You Tube channel.
COVID-19 Spring Boosters
People aged 75 years and older, residents in care homes for older people, and those aged 5 years and over with a weakened immune system will be offered a COVID-19 booster vaccine this spring. Find out more in this guide to the spring booster.
Manchester Urgent Eye Care Service
Have you noticed a sudden change in your vision, red or painful eyelids, or have started seeing flashes? Instead of going to your GP or A&E, there’s Manchester Urgent Eye Care Service. It’s a free NHS service, made up of local optician teams in your area. To find out more, visit www.primaryeyecare.co.uk or watch this short animation.
Cost of Living Updates
If your rent has increased and you can’t afford the payments, the best thing you can do is talk to your landlord and try to reach an agreement. If you don’t feel confident speaking to your landlord, contact Citizens Advice.
Prepayment meter customers typically pay more for their energy than those paying by direct debit. From 1st July the ‘prepayment penalty’ will end, cutting bills for over four million households.
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Research carried out by Contact reveals that a third of eligible disabled children are unable to access their free school meal due to medical and sensory reasons. The charity is supporting a parent-led campaign calling for food vouchers to be given to these children, the equivalent of £570 a year in financial help. Some parents have successfully argued for a food voucher instead of a cooked meal in school. They used the law that says that schools should make reasonable adjustments for disabled people so that they don’t face disadvantage. Read more on Contact’s website.
The Cost of Living Emergency Travel Fund has been set up to provide transport to Manchester patients who are at risk of missing medical appointments due to the cost of living crisis. The fund is for taxi journeys from home to the appointment and then back again. Book through the Cost of Living Advice Line - 0800 023 2692.
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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.
There is also the Council's Help with the cost of living crisis information hub.
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