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The latest news and updates for parents/carers
and children and young people 0-25 years with special educational needs
and disabilities (SEND) in the Manchester City Council area
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Our next drop in is on Wednesday 10th January 2024, 10am-12.00pm, at Manchester Youth Zone in Harpurhey (931 Rochdale Road, Harpurhey M9 8AE). These monthly free events are for parents/carers and young people with SEND up to 25 in the Manchester City Council area, offering a chance to talk to a range of services and get support.
FUTURE DATES, 10am-12pm:
Wednesday 7th February, HideOut Youth Zone, Gorton
Wednesday 20th March, Woodhouse Park Lifestyle Centre, Wythenshawe
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Parent Champions Celebrate
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Wonderful news from the 2024 New Year’s Honours List! Big congratulations to Geraldine Hills for her MBE, awarded for services to Children and Young People with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities. Geraldine - a major drive behind Manchester Parent Champions - has given so much to the city. She’s a true changemaker and inspiration!
Anniversary event
Geraldine's award is particularly special as Manchester Parent Champions are celebrating their 10 year anniversary! Past and present friends are invited to join the Champions for a celebration event, with the Lord Mayor, to showcase their work and the outstanding achievements and impact over the last 10 years. It’s on Tuesday 23rd January, 10am-2pm, with lunch, at the Friends Meeting House, Manchester City Centre, 6 Mount Street, M2 5NS. Just bob along on the day, but let them know you are coming for numbers: regen.me.ukinfo@gmail.com.
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Flip for 11 to 25s
There are free music-making and skateboarding sessions at Projekts skatepark near Piccadilly Station every Wednesday 4.30-6.30pm in term time. It is a chance for young people with SEND aged 11-25 who live in the Manchester City Council area to enjoy an hour of skateboard coaching, followed by an hour of music-making with Billy and Andy who offer accessible music workshops. No parents/carers or younger siblings, please. Families are welcome to hang out in the cafe during the sessions or watch the skateboarders from the viewing balcony. To book places, contact info@billyandandy.co.uk, 07429 826053. Part of the SEND Community Offer.
Saturday Cycling
MANCCYCLES and GMYN offer an exciting opportunity for young people aged 11-16 with SEND and Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) needs living in the Manchester City Council area. 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 at MANCCYCLES for more information and to book places – info@manccycles.co.uk, 07970 922132. Part of the SEND Community Offer.
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Stay and play
Manchester Settlement offer two Stay and Play sessions in Openshaw for families with pre-school children with SEND. It’s a warm and friendly environment, with staff providing support for families and interactive play for the children. No need to book, just drop in, Thursdays, term time only, 10-11.30am and 12-1.30pm. Find out more.
Wellbeing groups
There are two free wellbeing groups for young people with SEND aged 10-25 to help them learn, play, build new friendships, gain confidence and improve their wellbeing. It’s run by the charity Kids and is on Monday evenings (term time) at 422 Community Hub, M12 4EX in the Longsight/Ardwick area:
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Young film maker goes to awards
Congratulations to Tashan Biggs for his nomination as Young Creative of the Year in the Manchester Culture Awards 2023, held in December. When nineteen year old Tash was doing our free Travel Training, trainer Phil Samphire picked up on his passion for film making and connected him with a British Film Institute (BFI) programme at HOME Mcr. This developed Tash’s skills and ideas, leading to him making a short horror genre film on his mobile phone - ‘Fear’ - which was shown in Sheffield as part of a competition for young aspiring directors. As an autistic young person with mild learning difficulties, Tash was very proud to be among a diverse range of nominees at such an important awards event. He will continue with the film making, hoping to inspire other young people to keep hold of their dreams and never give up - whatever the knockbacks!
Opportunities at HOME Mcr
Find out about the range of opportunities for young creatives at HOME Mcr. There is also RevAMP (previously AMP) at Contact; a project for music lovers, makers and shakers aged 18-30 who identify as disabled. It’s a chance to create music collaboratively, as well as hosting performances and events with other like-minded people. RevAMP takes place at Contact every other Wednesday from 6-7.30pm. To sign up, fill in the online form or contact Engagement Manager Beth Rigby, bethrigby@contactmcr.com, 07776 511255.
Go places with Travel Training
If you’re a young person with SEND aged 14-25, give our free Travel Training a try - like Tash did. Get up to six one-to-one sessions based around what you like doing. It can help you gain more confidence and independence. You’ll also find out about lots of useful stuff, like travel cards and Our Pass. You just need to live in the Manchester City Council area. Contact Olivia at Greater Manchester Youth Network (GMYN), olivia.malone@gmyn.co.uk, 07708 028312. You never know where it might take you!
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The Youth Buzz Awards 2024 nominations are live! The awards will take place in March, celebrating the achievements of young people across Manchester during the last year. Nominees must be aged 11-19 years old (up to 25 with special educational needs and disability and/or care leavers) and be either a resident living in Manchester or accessing educational provision or employment in the city. The closing date is January 14th, so get nominating!
The Youth Buzz Awards team are looking for young people to get involved in planning and organising the awards night on Saturday 9th March 2024. Get in touch with Aaron Holleran, 07946 191272, Aaron.holleran@manchester.gov.uk.
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Carers news
Free concerts for carers
Carers Manchester offer free afternoon concerts as part of their partnership with The Hallé at The Bridgewater Hall. You are welcome to bring the person you care for, and light refreshments are provided. They’re on Wednesdays: 24 January, 21 February, 20 March, 24 April, 15 May. To book your places, find the concerts on the Events calendar, where you can also see other activities and support groups for carers in Manchester.
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Free workshops and seminars
Free workshops are offered to parents and carers of children or young people who have received a formal diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Condition from Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust. They include: Autism and Well-being, Communication Workshop, Sensory Workshop, Understanding and Working with the Education System. See Manchester Parent Carer Forum’s website for sessions coming up in 2024.
Check out the latest seminars and groups from Greater Manchester Autism Consortium (GMAC). They’re all free and include newly updated parent courses around behaviour, sensory processing and stress
New support group
Dare To Be Different is a new support group for parents with children with SEND. It is aimed at the Asian community but anyone can attend. The group can help with coping strategies, advice on getting further help, and much more. There are weekly drop ins every Monday 10am-12pm at Gorton Sure Start Centre, 18 Mount Road, M18 7BG. Contact Rehena for further details - 07960 110520, dare2bdifferent2023@gmail.com.
 Family Hubs
Have you heard about the new Family Hubs? There are three in Manchester: Cheetham, Longsight and Crossacres in Wythenshawe. They bring together services for families with children of all ages (0-19) or up to 25 with SEND and act as one-stop-shops, making it easier for families to get the help they need when they need it and improving the support on offer. Find out more.
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News in brief
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