|
|
Our next Drop In is at Manchester Youth Zone, Harpurhey, on Wednesday 13th September, 10am-12.00pm. These monthly free events are for parent/carers living in the Manchester City Council area, offering a chance to talk to a range of services and get support from other parents. Look out for a Drop In newsletter nearer the time!
|
Future Drop Ins, 10am-12 noon:
Wednesday 18th October, Manchester College, Openshaw Campus
Wednesday 15th November, Woodhouse Park Lifestyle Centre, Wythenshawe
|
|
Free Travel Training For 14-25s
Our free A-Z Travel Training Programme offers opportunities for young people to gain confidence and independence in travelling around Manchester and beyond. It is for young people with SEND aged 14-25 who live in the Manchester City Council area, offering one-to-one support in accessing leisure activities. That might be the cinema, going to the shops or meeting up with a friend. There will be up to six sessions, each session lasting around three hours, depending on where the young person wants to go. They will also get useful information, e.g. travel cards, CEA cards and Our Pass. To find out more or to register, contact Greater Manchester Youth Network (GMYN) on 0161 234 2950, info@gmyn.co.uk. Part of the SEND Community Offer.
Autism Understood
There is a fantastic new website - Autism Understood - created by Spectrum Gaming in co-production with lots of autistic young people. When young people are told they are autistic, they are rarely told what this actually means. There is also a lot of online misinformation about autism. Autism Understood fills in the gaps. The idea is that all autistic young people should be offered access to this site to help them make sense of their diagnosis. Even though it’s designed for young people, it is also useful for parents and professionals and anyone who wants to learn more about the lived experience of autism.
Time To Talk
The life-changing Time to Talk Next Steps programme is open for new referrals. It is a free online support and self-advocacy programme for young people aged 16-25 who are experiencing anxiety, isolation and have limited or no plans for the future. They may be in school or in college or have finished all education and be unsure how to move forward. The experienced team provide virtual one to one support to build confidence and help navigate life's challenges. They also work without labels; young people do not need to have a diagnosis or Education Health and Care Plan. If you know a young person who would benefit, let them know or see if they would like you to get in touch on their behalf.
Young Adult Carers Support
Manchester Carers Centre provide a range of services for 16-25 year old Young Adult Carers, including social activities. The project offers information and advice services alongside one to one mentoring with dedicated staff members for this age group. Find out more and how to refer on Manchester Carers Centre website.
The Justin Podcast
Justin P Lees is a local artist who creates podcasts about his life and artwork, including this special interview with cartoonist Tony Husband. Justin is with Venture Arts, an award-winning Manchester organisation working with learning disabled artists. With Merida, his arts tutor, Justin decides what podcasts to do and they make them together. Find out about Justin’s work, and check out Venture Arts to see what they offer for local creatives.
|
|
Autism and Wellbeing: Post-diagnostic Workshop
This free Social Communication Pathway workshop is for Manchester parents/carers of primary school-aged children. It’s on Thursday 7th September, 10-2pm, Moss Side Millennium Powerhouse, 140 Raby St, Moss Side, M14 4SL. It includes: considering what autism means to your child and family, what is autism, strengths and positives, and signposting to services that promote wellbeing. Find out more and how to book through Manchester Parent Carer Forum.
Carers Morning
Join Manchester Parent Carer Forum (MPCF) on Friday 15th September, 10am-12 noon for a coffee morning at Martenscroft Nursery and Sure Start Centre in Hulme, 33 Epping Street, M15 6PA. It’s an opportunity to meet and chat to fellow parents and carers of children and young people with SEND in a relaxed and friendly setting. You will also learn about the work of Manchester Parent Carer Forum and find out how to get involved. Please book through MPCF.
Have A Say On Play
Take part in a conversation about a potential new inclusive play area in Wythenshawe Park. There is a Zoom session hosted by Manchester Parent Carer Forum at 7pm on Wednesday 30th August – book through Eventbrite. You can also share your thoughts by emailing welovemcrcharity@manchester.gov.uk or calling 07929 823375. What sort of things do you look and plan for when visiting a community play area? What features would provide the best experience for your family's visit? What are the potential barriers? This opportunity has come about from a local company approaching the We Love Manchester Charity, with Manchester City Council parks staff involved. It’d be great to get your views on what a new play area might look like – and hear what your children think too!
A Child Friendly City
Over the next 3-5 years, Manchester will be working with UNICEF UK to ensure that the whole of Manchester puts children’s rights into practice. We want to hear the views of 11-18 year olds (up to 25 with additional needs) to help in the work to become a Child Friendly City (CFC) where all children and young people feel safe, heard and able to flourish. Please encourage your children and young people to do the survey. They can fill it out themselves or with the support of a trusted adult. Thank you!
Education News
Autistic Children are particularly vulnerable to being excluded from school. The Department for Education is funding the School Exclusions service through the Autism Education Trust (AET) to provide information and advice to parents and to support professionals. See the resources, including AET’s School Exclusion Service.
|
Wood Street Mission now run their Smart Start school uniform programme all year round. Families can place uniform orders and choose other school essentials, such as winter coats, school bags, sports kit and stationery. You can’t self-refer. You need to be referred to Wood Street Mission by a professional who knows your family’s circumstances well. Find out what else Wood Street Mission offers to Manchester families.
School transport is a big concern for families around this time of year, so Contact’s education team recently hosted a Q&A session to assist parent carers in England with any questions or issues they may be having. Find out the top 5 questions, plus links to further information. Learn more about Manchester's Home to School Transport, which has a link to the updated policies at the bottom of the page.
Free Online Qualifications
There is a range of fully funded free CACHE* accredited Level 2 qualifications offered online through The AIM Group (*Council for Awards in Care, Health and Education). This includes: Special Educational Needs and Disability, Understanding Children and Young People’s Mental Health, Neuroscience In Early Years (0-7) and Understanding Autism. Anyone can take the courses as long as they are over the age of 20, have lived in the UK/EU for 3 years or more and aren't on another government funded course (eg. apprenticeship). Find out more on The AIM Group website.
|
Sense Awards
It’s the 20th year of the Sense Awards, celebrating the achievements of people with complex disabilities. Do you know a superstar who’s overcome the odds to achieve something great this year? Or a carer or volunteer who’s gone above and beyond to make a difference? Show them how brilliant they are by nominating them today.
|
News In Brief
Registering as an unpaid carer can help you access the help you’re eligible for. It may feel strange calling yourself an unpaid carer when you’re still a parent, friend or family member but registering with your GP or local services can help unlock support and discounts. Find out more from Mobilise.
Unpaid carers in the Manchester City Council area can get support from Carers Manchester, including a regular newsletter, courses, and advice around a range of caring-related matters.
|
Disabled Children: A Legal Handbook (3rd edition) is an accessible guide to the legal rights of disabled children and their families in England. There are twelve chapters within the handbook on topics including: education, health, children’s services, transition into adulthood, housing, carers and welfare benefits. Download it for free.
|
|
Let's Talk About Constipation
Constipation can be a life–threatening issue for people with a learning disability who are at heightened risk from complications if it is left untreated. There are new NHS resources to support people with a learning disability, their carers, and people who work in primary care, including this short animation about the signs of constipation.
Autumn Covid Boosters
Clinically vulnerable children and carers in the UK will be offered the Covid vaccine booster this autumn. People aged 12-64 who are ‘household contacts’ of people with weakened immune systems will also be offered the booster. Learn more from Contact.
Free Health Workshops
Manchester People First are running a series of free Health Workshops in the autumn for adults with a learning disability. They are on Thursdays 11am-2.30pm at Manchester People First, 3 Broughton Street, Cheetham Hill, M8 8RF, with lunch included: 7th September Healthy Eating and Diabetes, 14th September Cancer, 21st September Ears and Eyes, 28th September Mental Health, 5th October Teeth, 5th October Yoga and 12th October Fun Session. To book, call 0161 839 3700 or email mcrpeoplefirst@googlemail.com – limited spaces!
Don’t forget, anyone aged 14 or over who is on their doctor's learning disability register can have a free annual health check once a year. Find out more in this NHS information.
|
|
Tax Credits Deadline
If you have a 16-19 year old who’ll be staying in school or college after the summer holidays, remember to let the Tax Credit Office know by 31st August. If you don’t, they will be treated as a school leaver and any payments you get for them will stop.
Childcare Savings
Manchester has a great range of high quality child care, allowing parents to work and providing a great start in life for young children. High quality childcare doesn’t come cheap though, so it’s useful to know what support is available to meet the cost:
- 15 hours free childcare per week for eligible families with a two year old
- 15 hours free early learning per week for all three and four year olds with working families entitled to 30 hours free childcare.
- Tax Free Childcare scheme offering families with children aged 0-11 years up to 20% towards childcare costs (or 0-16 years for children with a disability)
Most of Manchester’s early years settings are registered to accept tax free payments. Visit Childcare Choices for more information and a handy calculator to find out which childcare funding you're entitled to.
Money News In Brief
Use the new and improved Grants Search on Turn2us to find the financial support your disabled child needs to live their best life. The search tool is now quicker and easier than ever to use.
Contact have shared an update on accessing Child Trust Funds. The advice is to contact your provider to see if they have put anything in place to help you access the fund.
Making finance decisions for young people: parent and carer toolkit - This toolkit provides a guide for parents and carers to make financial decisions for a young person who lacks mental capacity.
Cost Of Living Advice
Raising a disabled child already costs three times more and because it's so difficult to juggle work with caring, families are at greater risk of poverty. It's crucial that you claim all the financial help you're entitled to. Take a look at Contact’s Cost of Living advice.
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.
Carers Manchester has a Cost of Living Blog which is regularly updated with the latest news.
|
|
|
If you don’t receive our newsletters, find out how to subscribe here.
|
|
|
|
|
