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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 12th June, 10am-12pm, at the Pakistani Community Centre, 481 Stockport Road, Longsight, M12 4NN, next to Longsight Library. Find out more in our latest drop in bulletin.
FUTURE DROP INS:
Manchester Settlement, Openshaw, Tuesday 9th July
Summer break - August
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Ever wondered what the Short Breaks offer is? Our brilliant new video tells you all you need to know – in just under three minutes! Manchester mum Jenna talks you through what’s on offer for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities in Manchester. This includes what’s on in your local area, the SEND Community Offer and specialist short breaks which are available to a few children following a social work assessment. With so much on offer, there’s something to suit every child and family!
Find out more:
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Relaxed concert
Chetham’s School of Music next free relaxed performance for all is on Wednesday 12th June at 1.30pm for about an hour. There’s no dress code, you don’t need to know Beethoven from Bach, you won’t be shushed by an usher, and you can eat and drink. Find out more and book. There is also this information on accessibility to support your visit.
Songwriting sessions
Billy and Andy's Music School have an exciting new project aimed at promoting mental health for young people aged 14-25 with additional needs. There’s a 20-session songwriting workshop on Fridays, 10am-12pm at The Boiler House, Hulme, M16 7DA. All songs created will be professionally recorded and uploaded to streaming sites for everyone to enjoy. Free to attend as a one off or multiple sessions. Secure spots by emailing info@billyandandy.co.uk.
Bee You
‘Bee you’ is a new youth club for young people with SEND aged 11-16, Tuesday 5-7pm at Levenshulme Inspire, 747 Stockport Road, M19 3AR. It’s a small and welcoming youth club with activities like cooking, music, and games in a quiet and relaxing atmosphere. Call 0161 850 5717 to book places or find out more.
Arts with Starling
Starling run arts-based projects for neurodivergent young people aged 13-25, creating safe spaces for self-expression, positivity, and meeting like-minded people. They're also open to young people with mental health difficulties due to challenging life circumstances, like being a carer or being in care. There are free weekly workshops in Hyde (Tuesday), Oldham (Wednesday), Trafford (Wednesday) and Droylsden (Thursday), ages 13-17 4pm-5.30pm and ages 18-25 5.45pm-7.15pm. Week-to-week, this might look like illustration, print-making, creative writing, storytelling, puppet-making, photography, filmmaking and more. Sessions are geared to young people, including resources around travel to and from sessions. Registration form: https://starlingcio.org/reg-form/. Find out more about Starling on their website and @starlingcio on social media, Any enquiries to hello@starlingcio.org.uk.
Get festive with Libraries
Central Library is 90! Join Manchester Libraries on Sunday 16th June, 10am-4pm, for a free day full of fun for the whole family with crafts, face-paintings and performances. No need to book, just drop in. The day before, there’s a Fantastic Fun day at Longsight Library as part of the Festival of Libraries, Saturday 15th June, 2-4pm. There’s also a free fun day at the same time at Forum Library. Find out more on Manchester Libraries’ Festival of Libraries blog.
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Have you listened to the latest SENDTalk podcasts yet? The new FAQ series covers seven of your frequently asked questions, including, ‘What is SENDIASS?’, ‘What are the first steps to a SEND Tribunal?’, and ‘How do I check my child’s draft EHC plan?’.
The SENDIASS team would love to know what you think of them and hear your ideas for future podcasts. Here’s how you can do this:
- Scroll down SEND Talk Podcast to find ‘Season 2 – FAQ Series’ or search for ‘SEND Talk Manchester’ in Spotify and Apple podcasts.
- Listen to the podcasts of your choice at a time and place convenient to you. There are 7 of them, each around 30 minutes long.
- Fill in a short, anonymous survey for each podcast you listen to: https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/ID40UG/
Thank you for any contribution you can make. Your feedback will help the SENDIASS team to improve the podcasts and make sure they are working for parents/carers in the city. If you need any help with the surveys, contact sendiass@manchester.gov.uk.
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Equipment and adaptations |
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Introducing Smart Suite
Manchester Local Care Organisation's Smart Suite is open for visits from members of the public and professionals. From accessible kitchen and bathroom equipment, walking aids and alarms, right through to beds and stairlifts, Smart Suite is kitted out like a real home with examples of lots of equipment to help keep Manchester people independent at home. It’s a place where carers can try out aids and adaptations and see how they look and work in a home. Smart Suite is open almost every working day. Book a visit by calling 0161 277 1704 or emailing mft.msil-assessment-team@nhs.net. It’s just behind the Etihad Stadium - Smart Suite, Manchester Equipment and Adaptations Partnership (MEAP) building, Phillips Park Road, Manchester M11 3FU, entrance on New Viaduct Street.
Changing Places toilets
Changing Places toilets (CPTs) are fully accessible toilets with a height adjustable changing bench, a hoisting system, a peninsular toilet, and enough space for the disabled person, his/her wheelchair and two carers. There are now 9 CPTs across Manchester leisure facilities at Manchester Aquatics Centre, The National Cycling Centre, Abraham Moss, Arcadia, East Manchester, Hough End, Moss Side, North City Family and Fitness Centre, and Wythenshawe Forum. All Manchester leisure centres with pools have either a pool hoist or a pool pod and many have accessible steps.
Adapt and Live
Adapt and Live is the new name for the helpline and training services by the charity Disabled Living. The team provide advice to members of the public and healthcare professionals about equipment and services to support independence. In addition, they offer Occupational Therapy assessments, access audits and accredited training programmes. Disabled Living has further information, including a supplier directory.
DATE FOR YOUR DIARY! Disabled Living brings you Kidz to Adultz Exhibition North 2024 at Manchester Central, Friday 11th October 2024, 9.30am-4pm. An inclusive, vibrant space for everyone, with seminars, support and 100+ specialist exhibitors. Register for free!
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Find out about grants for equipment and adaptions in the Benefits and grants section of our Local Offer SEND Information Hub.
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Parent carer standards
Are you a parent carer? There is a new set of standards in Greater Manchester, acting as a guide for organisations and letting you know how your needs should be met. You can download the standards and get more information from the Greater Manchester Integrated Care Partnership.
Get Election ready
My Vote My Voice is on a mission to encourage people with learning disabilities and autistic people to vote in the 2024 General Election. Voting can be a difficult process to follow for some. Here’s a quick and easy step-by-step guide on how to vote. See Manchester City Council’s menu for local information. The deadline for registering to vote is midnight on Tuesday 18th June and it’s Wednesday 19th June for new postal vote applicants.
Good Lives manifesto
The Good Lives Manifesto 2024 lays out important changes that people with learning disabilities, family members, and the people who work with them would like to see in the next government. It's in easy read and has been coproduced and built from a number of campaigns and actions, bringing people and organisations together on what they think are the most important priorities for the next government to take action on.
News in brief
Sibs has a range of guides for adult siblings of someone with a lifelong disability from birth. They cover the most common questions Sibs receive, including Decision-making, Coping with managing care and Future Planning.
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Manchester Achievement Awards 2024 celebrate the achievement of Manchester's children who were or are still in care: KS1/2 (age 5-11) nomination form, KS3/4 (age 12-25) nomination form. Any queries, contact cfmessage@manchester.gov.uk. Closing date: Wednesday 12th June 2024
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