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We return to The Manchester College for our next Drop In on Wednesday 18th October, 10am-12.00pm, Openshaw Campus, Ashton Old Road, M11 2WH. Our 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 15th November, Woodhouse Park Lifestyle Centre, Wythenshawe
Wednesday 13th December, Moss Side Powerhouse
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Relaxed Cinema Screening
Manchester Parent Carer Forum’s next free relaxed cinema screening is coming up. It's for SEND families living in the Manchester City Council area, at GRUB, an independent cinema venue in the Red Bank area of Manchester city centre. The next screening is on Saturday 7th October 10am-12 noon. If you would like to vote for the film, see the poll, closing at 6pm on Wednesday 27th September. Booking opens later that evening at 9pm through Eventbrite.
Skateboarding Fun
There is free skateboarding and scootering fun this half term with Projekts MCR Skatepark, 97 London Road, M1 2PG from Monday 23rd to Friday 27th October, 2-4pm. It’s for SEND young people aged between 5-25 living in the Manchester City Council area and their families and friends. It’s free and each participant gets a cookie and a drink from the café too! Booking essential - call the Specialist Resource Team on 0161 219 2125, Monday-Friday, 10am-3pm. One booking per family at this stage. Let the team know if you would be interested in places on other sessions if they become available during the half term.
Spooky Parties
The SPACE Group are holding four free inclusive spooky parties for families living in the Manchester City Council area:
Thursday 26th October, The Grange Community Resource Centre, Pilgrim Drive, Beswick M11 3TQ
Party 1 from 12-2pm will be relaxed, with reduced noise
Party 2 from 2.30-4.30pm will be a busy SPACE party
Friday 27th October, St Nicholas Church, Kingsway, Burnage M19 1PL
Party 3 from 12-2pm will be relaxed, with reduced noise
Party 4 from 2.30-4.30pm will be a busy SPACE party
There are two ways of booking tickets. To book by text SEND ONE TEXT ONLY to 07749 116211 on Wednesday 18th October from 5-7pm. Please include your name, children’s name, postcode and preferred party (1, 2, 3 or 4). Alternatively, book face to face at one of the following venues.
Venues for face to face booking
Friday 29th September, 11am-1pm, The SPACE Group parents’ session, St George’s Community centre, Bothwell Rd, M40 7NY
Wednesday 4th October, 10am-12pm, The SPACE Group parents’ session, St Margaret’s Church, Kingsway M19 1PL
Wednesday 18th October 10am-12pm, Local Offer Drop In, Manchester College Openshaw Campus, Ashton Old Rd, Manchester, M11 2WH
N-ice Skating
 Free ice-skating is back by popular demand – with more places available this year! If you are a SEND family living in the Manchester City Council area, join The SPACE Group and Manchester Ice Skating in the city centre this November:
Thursday 16th November, 5pm-6pm and 6-7pm
Wednesday 22nd November, 5pm-6pm and 6pm-7pm
Thursday 23rd November, 5pm-6pm
There are two ways to book. Go to one of the venues to book face to face - find the list above the ice rink picture. Alternatively, SEND ONE TEXT ONLY to 07749 116211 on Saturday 21st October from 4pm-6pm. Please include your name, additional adults names, children’s names, postcode, and preferred date.
Additional information: Sessions are with Skate Manchester at Cathedral Gardens. SPACE parent carers will be there half an hour beforehand to meet you and help with getting ready in time. The site is wheelchair accessible and lights and music will be low. Children need to be aged 3+ (3-9yrs to be accompanied on the ice by an adult, 10-12s with an adult who is watching at all times). See the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs). The SPACE Group are putting together a Social Story to support your experience.
Manchester Youth Zone Trip
Manchester Youth Zone in Harpurhey is organising a free trip to Hollywood Bowl in Ashton. It’s aimed at 14-25 year olds with SEND, living in the north of the city. Transport is by the Youth Zone bus on Wednesday 25th October, leaving 11.30am, returning 4.30pm. Places are limited, so please consider carefully whether young people can commit to the date before registering. Reserve places by contacting Tia on 0161 203 5333 or tia.kelly@manchesteryz.org.
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Super 1s Cricket
Super 1s is a Lord’s Taverners programme designed to give cricketing opportunities to young disabled people aged 12-25. There is a new free session starting at Abraham Moss Leisure Centre, Crescent Road, Crumpsall M8 5UF on Wednesdays 6-7pm. It is also on Friday evenings, 7-8pm, at Denmark Road Sports Centre in Moss Side, M15 6FG (free or £2 if young people join the multi-sports with Champion’s Sports Club from 6-7pm). Not too far away in Swinton at Moorside High School, M27 0AP, there’s Disability Cricket on Thursday evenings, 6-7pm, a free session with opportunities to take part in competitions, festivals and workshops. Find out more on the Lancashire Cricket website. The contact is Amlyn Layton, 07799 639838, alayton@lancashirecricket.co.uk.
SEND Stay and Play
There is a free weekly SEND Stay and Play on Thursdays 10am -11.30am and 12-1.30pm, term time only, for children aged 6 months to 5 years. It’s at Manchester Settlement, St Clements Sure Start, Mellville Close, Openshaw M11 1LR. No booking required. Just turn up or contact 0161 974 1300, info@manchestersettlement.org.uk for more details.
Story Time In Libraries
Library story times for little ones and their grown-ups have started again with silly songs, stories, rollicking rhymes and lots of fun and play. It's a great chance for you and your children to socialise and relax and you can collect stickers, certificates and free books if you attend regularly. Story times run weekly at 11am in libraries across the city. Check with your local library to see what they offer.
Free Fun Palaces
Fun Palaces is a celebration of culture at the heart of every community. With arts, science, craft, tech, digital and heritage activities, it's a chance for people to share their passions and for everyone to try something new. Join the following libraries for a feast of free fun - Saturday 7th October 2-4pm at North City Library, Forum Library Wythenshawe and Longsight Library, and 1-4pm at Central Library.
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Congratulations to The SPACE Group for getting shortlisted for the Community Organisation Award for Disability in the National Diversity Awards 2023, aired on 12th September. They may not have won in their category but they are winners in our eyes! Thank you to all the parents/carers involved in the group. You make such a difference to families in the city and are fantastic role models for parents new to the world of SEND. Find out why they were nominated.
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Carers Workshops
MPCF are hosting a free Understanding and Working with the Education System workshop for parents/carers (primary). It’s this Thursday 28th September, 10am-2pm at the Moss Side Millennium Powerhouse, 140 Raby St, Moss Side, Manchester M14 4SL. It’s being delivered by a One Education Educational Psychologist, with SENDIASS and Manchester Parent Carer Forum, and is aimed at Manchester parents/carers of children in the Early Years and Primary Schooling who have received a formal diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Condition from Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT). Find out more and how to book.
There are also more free Social Communication Pathway (SCP) workshops coming up, including one for Manchester parents/carers around secondary aged children on Thursday 19th October. Find out more and how to book through Manchester Parent Carer Forum's SCP workshops information.
Hatch Programme
GMYN’s final Hatch employability programme of the year starts on Tuesday 10th October. Delivered in partnership with UK Youth and The KFC Foundation, it is 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.To find out more, including how to apply, contact Liv on 07708 028 312, olivia.malone@gmyn.co.uk.
Courageous Conversations
Courageous Conversations About Neurodiversity, Culture and Autism is a free event on Wednesday 4th October, 10am-3.30pm at Luther King House, Brighton Grove, Fallowfield, M14 5JP. It is a conference for professionals, autistic adults and family members to get together to share insights on best practice, innovation and intersectionality around the topic of neurodiversity, culture and autism. The event has been organized by the GM Autism ethnically diverse communities focus group. Learn more in the flyer and book through Eventbrite.
Child Exploitation Awareness
Join a free online parent/carer event County Lines and Child Exploitation Awareness on Thursday 12th October, 12 noon. Co-delivered by Oasis UK and SafeCall, it will give parents and carers the tools to better safeguard their children.
There is also an event for professionals, Safeguarding Pupils with Special Educational Needs from Exploitation on Tuesday 10th October, 4pm. Co-delivered by The Children's Society and the National Autistic Society, it will provide teaching resources and tools to safeguard pupils with SEND and better recognise the risks for these children and young people.
Behind The Behaviour
'Behind the Behaviour’ is a multi-agency training programme for professionals designed to increase awareness and understanding of a range of mental and emotional health problems. Check out the programme which includes SEND-related training. For more information, contact the team on 0161 946 8270 or email healthy.schools@mft.nhs.uk.
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Support From The SPACE Group
The SPACE Group parent sessions are back! They kick off in the north on Friday 29th September, 11am-1pm, St George’s Community centre, Bothwell Rd M40 7NY. This is followed by followed by the south venue on Wednesday 4th October, 10am-12pm, at St Margaret’s Church, Kingsway M19 1PL. Join the award-nominated team and meet lots of parent carers, share experiences, have fun and some nice eats together!
African Caribbean Care Group
The African Caribbean Care Group aims to identify unwaged carers at the beginning of their caring journey and offer support services before they reach crisis point. This includes advocacy, information and advice services, emotional support, carers forums, day trips, access to Claremont Foodbank and respite care at a day centre. They run monthly carers forums on the first Monday of every month at the Claremont Resource Centre in Hulme and on the third working Monday of every month at Gorton Monastery. See their website.
Friday Socials
There’s a Woodhouse Park Family Centre Social every Friday 9-11.30am, 7 Stoneacre Road, Woodhouse Park, Wythenshawe, M22 1BP. It includes a free hot breakfast and drinks, activities, advice and support. To find out more, call or text 07595 907941 or email info@whpfamilycentre.co.uk.
Young Epilepsy
Childhood epilepsy can be frightening, isolating and often a misunderstood condition. Young Epilepsy work with children and young people with epilepsy to ensure their voices are heard and their rights protected. They offer online one to one and group support for children and young people affected by epilepsy. Find out more on their website or by emailing yss@youngepilepsy.org.uk.
New Easy Read Guides
There are new easy read guides from the North West Ambulance Service. One is about the Patient Transport Service and how it works. The other is 999 – When to call for an ambulance.
Kidz To Adultz
Kidz to Adultz is back in Manchester on Wednesday 1st November, 9.30am-4pm at Manchester Central. Whether you're a parent, clinician, teacher, therapist, or healthcare professional, Kidz to Adultz North is your one-stop destination for discovering the latest innovations, products, and services designed to enhance the lives of children, young adults, their families and the professionals who support them. Register for free.
Winter Support
Winter this year looks set to be hard again. Citizens Advice Manchester are already looking at how they can help people cope. Their free advice can help you reduce your bills, access extra support and deal with any outstanding energy debts. Call their Energy Team direct on 0808 164 4406 or send a WhatsApp message to 07360 546 111.
Mission Christmas Gift Applications can be made by organisations and service providers in Greater Manchester who support children (aged 0 up to and including 18 years old) at risk of waking up to no presents on Christmas morning. If you think you are eligible, talk to a professional to see if they can make a referral. See how to apply at Cash For Kids.
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