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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 Local Offer drop in is on Wednesday 20th November, 10am-12 noon at the Ladybarn Community Hub, Royle Street, Withington, M14 6RN. It’s a great opportunity to meet services and other parents/carers. Professionals welcome too! The event will be in the main hall through the foyer. See our latest drop in newsletter for more information.
Our December drop in has a different venue due to renovations at Manchester Youth Zone. It’s Wednesday 11th December at the ITC Centre, 122 Waterloo Road, Cheetham Hill, Manchester M8 8AF. More to follow!
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We are very sad to share that Geraldine Hills passed away towards the end of October. Geraldine was a major drive behind Manchester Parent Champions who celebrated their 10th anniversary earlier this year. Geraldine was passionate about disability inclusion and empowering parents and carers. She contributed so much to the city, and this was acknowledged with an MBE for services to Children and Young People with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities in the 2024 New Year’s Honours List. We send our love to her son, Sam, who was one of the first SEND Changemakers before going to university, and to her family in Wales. Geraldine spent her last weeks being cared for at the Marie Curie hospice in Penarth. If you would like to make a donation to Marie Curie in her memory, here is the link.
Geraldine’s funeral is going to be livestreamed at a small gathering at Moss Side Millennium Powerhouse on Monday 25th November, The funeral livestream will start at 11am but we will open at 10.30am for refreshments. We will also have a light lunch around 12 noon with an opportunity to chat with other parents and carers and to write a letter to Geraldine's family about your good memories of her. Spaces are limited. If you would like to join us, please reserve your place. The link should be open by 6pm on Thursday 14th November.
A true changemaker and inspiration, she will be much missed, but her legacy lives on. Thank you, Geraldine.
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Regular roller skating
The next exclusive hire roller skating session is coming up this week for families living in the Manchester City Council area. It’s on Saturday 17th November 12-2pm at Ardwick Sports Hall, 225 Stockport Rd, M12 4DY. For a chance of free places, please text the word ROLLER to The SPACE Group, with the full name of participants and your postcode to 07749 116211, between 6pm on Wednesday 13th (today) to 6pm on Thursday 14th November. All texts within the time period will be responded to. Please send only one. This activity is wheelchair accessible.
Weekly swims
There is a free weekly inclusive swim at the Abraham Moss Leisure Centre, Crescent Road, Crumpsall, M8 5UF, for families living in the Manchester City Council area. Sessions are every Saturday 12-2pm. The swim provides a calmer environment for children and young people with special needs and disabilities. Booking is arranged through The SPACE Group. It opens every Monday at 9am and closes on Wednesday at 6pm for the swimming session on the Saturday that week. (For example, 9am Monday 18th November to 6pm Wednesday 20th November for the swimming session on Saturday 23rd November.) Text the word SWIMMING to 07749 116211 with the full names of anyone going in the pool, the children’s date of birth, postcode and preferred time 12-1pm or 1-2pm. The swimming is popular, so if you turn up without a confirmed booking you may not get in the pool!
Winter ice skating
If you are a SEND family living in the Manchester City Council area, join The SPACE Group for exclusive ice skating in the city centre this winter. There are five sessions:
- Wednesday 27th November, 5-6pm and 6-7pm
- Thursday 28th November, 5-6pm and 6-7pm
- Thursday 5th December, 5-6pm
There are three ways to book:
- Face to face at The SPACE Group Manchester on Friday 15th November, 11am-1pm, St George’s Community centre, Bothwell Rd, Collyhurst, M40 7NY.
- Face to face at The Local Offer Drop In, Wednesday 20th November, 10am-12pm, Ladybarn Community Hub, Royle Street, Withington, M14 6RN.
- Text ICE SKATING with full names, date of birth, preferred session date and time, and postcode to to 07749 116211, between 1pm on Wednesday 20th November to 6pm on Friday 22nd November. All texts within the time period will be responded to. Please send only one.
Sessions are with Skate Manchester at Cathedral Gardens and will be quieter and calmer than usual. SPACE parent carers will be there earlier to meet you. Children need to be at least 3 years old to skate on the ice. Children under 13 must be accompanied by an adult (18+) on the rink. This activity is wheelchair accessible. Skate aids are available for children under 120cm. See the Frequently Asked Questions.
Christmas Community Kitchen
The Community Kitchen returns for Christmas with a free session on Monday 23rd December, 2.30-5.30pm. Including a winter barbeque, the theme is based on traditional Caribbean Christmas foods and drinks like ackee and saltfish, gunga peas and rice, chicken/lamb, steamed fish, sorrel and vegetarian/vegan. It’s for young people with SEND and/or social emotional and mental health needs (SEMH) living in the Manchester City Council area. Come with your families and cook (and eat!) together, learning about healthy food and cooking skills. The session is at Procter Learning Centre, Hulme Street, Off Jackson Crescent M15 5EF. Please arrive on time, parking available. Booking essential - call Roger on 07970 922132.
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Opportunity for young Deaf people
Are you Deaf and aged between 17-24? Manchester Deaf Centre have a paid opportunity for you. It’s 3 workshops with Manchester Museum about your relationship with nature, including visiting local green space and making a film as a group. The workshops are the mornings of 23rd November, 7th December and 14th December. The payment is £300 in Love2Shop vouchers, made at the end of the workshops. Email to confirm your place, first come first served: CYPS@manchesterdeafcentre.com. The deadline to book is this Friday!
Lego Club
Manchester Central Library are holding their next Lego Club on Saturday 30th November, 2pm-3.30pm. Drop in, pick your favourite bricks and build anything that takes your fancy. Find out more on the Library Live website. There are Lego Clubs at other libraries around the city. Give them a call or drop in to ask – find your local library.
Quiet mornings
Quiet Mornings are free muti-sensory play sessions at Whitworth Art Gallery, running from 10.30am to 12.30pm. No need to book, just drop in. The next one is Sunday 24th November. They sessions specially designed for families with additional needs who may prefer a quieter, calmer environment. Children lead the way and move around in their own time and at their own pace. Find out more from The Whitworth.
Santa visit
There will be free visit to Santa sessions for children with additional needs on Tuesday 3rd December, 3.30-5.30pm, at Martenscroft Children’s Centre, 33 Epping Street, Hulme, M15 6PA. Spaces limited. Please call the centre on 0161 226 1266 to book your places.
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Christmas parade
Festive singalong
There’s a free Festive Sing-a-long relaxed performance on Friday 13th December, 1.10pm (doors open at 12.30pm) at The Martin Harris Centre for Music and Drama, Bridgeford Street, off Oxford Road, M13 9PL. Manchester University Music Society hosts this annual 50-minute musical treat, open to everybody. It’s inclusive in many ways – audience can move about the concert hall, go in and out, make noise, dance and join in the songs, and use the quiet room. Lights are also left on throughout the event and there’s a team on hand to assist with all your access needs. No need to book (except for groups of 10 or more). The capacity of the venue is 350. Whilst the event has been popular in previous years, they’ve never had to turn people away. For individual requirements, please contact the box office - boxoffice@manchester.ac.uk, 0161 275 895. Here’s information on visiting the centre, as well as access guidance.
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Manchester Parent Carer Forum
Join Manchester Parent Carer Forum (MPCF) on Monday 18th November 2024, 10am-12pm, for a coffee morning at Martenscroft Children's Centre in Hulme. It's an opportunity to meet and chat with fellow parents and carers of children and young people with Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities (SEND) in a relaxed setting. Please book through MPCF.
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MPCF will be hosting coffee mornings at various primary and secondary schools across Manchester as part of the Neurodiversity in Education project (previously Autism in Schools). Please visit MPCF's website for more information about the programme, including whether your child's school is involved.
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Annual SEND survey
Do you have children aged 0-25 with special educational needs and/or disabilities? Do they live or access education, health or social care services in Manchester? If it’s YES to both questions, this is your chance to share your views on how well Manchester City Council and health partners meet your children’s needs and improve life for the city’s families. The survey takes about 15 minutes and Manchester Parent Carer Forum will be raffling off five £30 shopping vouchers as part of it! If you find it difficult to do online, please let MPCF know.
The SPACE Group
The wait is over - The SPACE Group is back in the north! Join them on Friday 15th November, 11am-1pm, at St George’s Community Centre Bothwell Rd M40 7NY to celebrate their three year anniversary. There’ll be an afternoon tea buffet style, plus bingo and games, all in a non-judgemental, inclusive environment. Plus, they’ll be taking bookings for the SEND Community Offer ice skating. They hope to see you there! In the meantime, join their Facebook group – The SPACE Group Manchester - for news, support and more.
In brief
Contact have shared a breakdown of what recent Budget changes will mean for your family. The biggest news story for carers was the announcement that the Carers Allowance earnings limit will increase to £196 per week from April 2025.
Sibs has a Confident Caring programme, offering free training for all adults who have a disabled brother or sister. Find out more on this Sibs webpage. It also includes a Sibling Stories section, sharing experiences of adult siblings.
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After popular demand, Carers Manchester are re-opening applications for their free employment coaching. Get in touch by the end of November to ask for more info or sign up - admin@carersmanchester.org.uk, 0161 834 6069 [ext. 1133]
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Keeping well in winter
Seasonal vaccinations
Viruses common in winter can make some people very unwell and result in serious problems that may need hospital care. That’s why the NHS is offering free vaccines to those most at risk of being unwell if they catch flu, Covid and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). Find out more. If you are the main carer for an elderly or disabled person, you are no longer entitled to a free Covid booster but can get the flu jab.
Free personal safety app
WalkSafe+ is a free personal safety app to help keep your loved ones safe in the city. They can build a trusted circle of friends who can view their location or estimated time of arrival. Amongst other features, it allows them to locate live night time support and find safe places. There is also an SOS button. Learn more on the WalkSafe website.
Warm spaces
Every library in Manchester is a warm, safe and free space that residents of all ages can come in and stay warm all day in a positive environment with lots of free resources, including hot drinks, internet, newspapers and signposting to support agencies. Find out more. You can also use this website to find a warm space near you.
Curriculum framework
The Curriculum Framework for Children and Young People with Vision Impairment (CFVI) is a UK-wide framework. It supports children and young people with vision impairment, aged 0-25, to access an appropriate and equitable education. You can get a download, as well as a parent carer guide, on the Local Offer page for the Manchester Sensory Support Service.
Child exploitation training
Check out the Greater Manchester Programme of Learning and Development Events.
Aimed at professionals and parents/carers, these free online sessions relate to topics around child exploitation, including online safety, county lines and cuckooing (a practice where people take over a person’s home and use the property to facilitate exploitation). They are very relevant to neurodivergent people and their families and for professionals supporting them. (In case you need to copy and paste the link:
https://sway.cloud.microsoft/bgPYMfAjO0kKEHIr?ref=email)
Festival of Care
What happens when we consider care a craft or an artful practice? Find out at the free Festival of Care at The Whitworth from Thursday 21st to Saturday 23rd November.
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Youth voice
Confirm and Challenge event
There’s an opportunity for learning disabled children and young people to have a say in Greater Manchester. It’s on Friday 22nd November, 10.30am till 2pm at Manchester People First, Broughton Street, Cheetham Hill, M8 8RF. Run by the Greater Manchester Health and Social Care Partnership, the event aims to find out what children and young people under 25 want and need for their services. Learn more and book a place using this link (scroll down the page to find the event).
Area Youth Forums
Would you like to have a say in Manchester? The Area Youth Forums are open! These are Manchester spaces created by and for young people. They’re a unique opportunity to decide what the important issues are and get direct access to leaders and decision makers. It’s also a great opportunity to get involved in something different.
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The forums are for all Manchester residents aged 11-18 years (up to 25 years old with SEND and/or additional needs and care leavers). Adults and youth workers are welcome to attend if supporting you. Food and drink provided. Find out more on the Area Youth Forum webpage. This includes a video and dates of the next meetings, but don’t worry about missing these. Here’s a link to the short Expression of Interest Form. Fill this in and submit it.
School transport campaign
Transport to school, college or nursery is one of the top issues parents ask about on Contact's helpline. There’s an opportunity to tell them about your experiences to support the campaign to make improvements. Here’s the survey link. It’ll take about 15 minutes. Closes 18th November.
ADHD project
NHS Greater Manchester wants to improve children’s Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder services and would like to hear from people living with ADHD, their family members or carers, and professionals. They're looking to address some of the issues, including long waiting times, the referral and assessment process, how cases are prioritised, and making sure that children and young people who are most in need get help quickly. There are several ways you can have a say:
- Do a survey
- Join a lived experience group – regular online sessions from December to February
- Attend a focus group - Tuesday 19th November, 5-7pm, online; Thursday 28th November, 10.30am-12pm, face to face in central Manchester.
Find out about the lived experience group and focus groups in this project information. It also has copies of the Children’s ADHD Review, including an easy read version. Closes 29th November.
Autism Strategy
Greater Manchester Autism Consortium (GMAC) have the go ahead to extend the work around the ‘Greater Manchester Autism Strategy – Making Manchester Autism Friendly’ (Easy read version). They would love to hear from autistic people of all ages (diagnosed, waiting or self-identifying), family members and friends and professionals. They also encourage contributions from people from ethnically diverse communities, people from LGBTIQ+ communities, older people and anyone who has never heard of this work but wants to get involved. There are different ways to take part:
If you would like to get our newsletters, find out how to sign up
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