|
|
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
|
|
Inclusion in Manchester
Tuesday 24th June 2025, 10am to 2.30pm
Mechanics Institute, Manchester City Centre
Are you a parent/carer or SEND professional in Manchester?
The event is at The Mechanics Institute, 103 Princess Street M1 6DD (use side entrance on Major Street). Registration is between 9.30am to 10am, with teas and coffees. There will be presentations and workshops, as well as a free lunch and stalls. You don't have to come for the whole day, and there is a creche. Learn more about the event.
Need help with booking?
Call the Local Offer team on 0161 219 2125 (Monday to Friday, 10am to 4pm).
|
|
|
|
Our next drop in is on Wednesday 18th June, 10am-12pm at Moss Side Powerhouse, 140 Raby Street, M14 4SL. These monthly free events are for parents/carers and young people with SEND up to 25 in the Manchester City Council area. They offer a chance to talk to a range of services and get support. Your children don’t need to have a diagnosis. All welcome – including professionals.
|
|
FUTURE DROP INS 2025, 10am-12pm
Wednesday 16th July, Manchester Youth Zone, Harpurhey
No drop in during August
|
|
SEND-friendly cinema
The next relaxed cinema showing with Manchester Parent Carer Forum is Saturday 21st June, 11am to 1pm at GRUB, 50 Red Bank, Cheetham Hill, M4 4HF. Film to be announced. Siblings without SEND are welcome to join this SEND-friendly screening where guests can get free popcorn. This activity is for SEND families living in the Manchester City Council area. Book through Eventbrite.
|
|
SEND Taster Month
This June, Manchester Active is proud to present SEND Taster Month, a celebration of inclusive sport and activity across our city. Whether you’re new to sport or looking to try something different, there’s a wide range of fun, friendly and fully inclusive taster sessions designed for individuals with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and their families. It’s a perfect chance to discover new passions, meet others, and get active in a welcoming environment. Sessions include swimming, cycling, multi-sports, rugby, netball, climbing and Wheelyboat on-water experience. Activities are at accessible venues across Manchester and delivered by experienced coaches and inclusive sport providers.
Walk for Wellness
Walk for Wellness is a free, inclusive indoor walk open to all ages and abilities, with a wheelchair and pram-friendly route that stays dry no matter the weather. It’s 11am every Tuesday at the iconic Velodrome concourse, located at the National Cycling Centre, Stuart Street, M11 4DQ and meeting at reception. It’s a great opportunity to exercise gently and socialize in a friendly and welcoming environment and enjoy watching the Great Britain Cycling Team train on the track. No need to book—just come along. For more information, visit the National Cycling Centre or email cyclingcentre@gll.org.
Deaf Centre activities
The Children and Young People’s Service at Manchester Deaf Centre offers a range of events and activities for d/Deaf children and their families. Check out Eventbrite for what’s coming up in July. Bookings open 16th June. Here’s a BSL version on You Tube.
|
|
Home to School deadline
The deadline for applications for Home to School transport in the new school year is this Friday 13th June! If your child already gets this transport, a new application is needed when there is a change in circumstances such as home address, school site address, child’s needs or family circumstances or the child is in a transition year, i.e. year 6 to year 7, even if it’s the same setting. A new application isn’t needed if the child’s circumstances remain the same and they’re not in a transition year. Find out how to apply. If you have any questions, please contact the Home to School Transport team on 0161 219 6400 (calls are taken by Environment on Call), email hometoschool@manchester.gov.uk. Applications will still be processed after the June deadline but there isn’t a guarantee of provision being in place for the new academic year.
New Changemakers videos
Just Ask Us is a set of videos created by the Greater Manchester Autism Consortium (GMAC) in collaboration with SENDCode and DISC. Aimed at senior school leaders across Greater Manchester but informative for parents/carers, young people and professionals too, the series highlights how small, low or no cost adjustments can make a big difference to the school experience of autistic students. Young autistic people from the Changemakers at Greater Manchester Youth Network (GMYN) shared their lived experiences of what worked well and what didn’t in school. These insights were then brought to life with the help of local neurodivergent creatives, turning real stories into impactful videos. Find out more about the GMYN Changemakers and how disabled and neurodivergent young people can have a say in Manchester.
Free legal guidance
Carers Manchester now offer a new way for carers and professionals to access free legal information about health and social care, at any time. The AccessAva chatbot on their website asks questions and based on your answers, gives you information and points you to resources or even creates a legal letter for you. Give it try by clicking the purple icon at the bottom right of the screen.
SEND eLearning
The Council for Disabled Children’s eLearning platform has moved. It offers free training on a range of SEND-related topics, aimed at professionals but open to all, including parent carers.
RANi support group
RANi (Raising Awareness on Neurodivergent Individuals) is a support group that aspires to raise awareness of neurodiversity and special needs and disabilities children. While it is aimed at ethnic communities, everyone is welcome to join. It offers:
- Social Gatherings (mothers and female carers), north and south Manchester
- Support Group (mothers, fathers and carers), north Manchester
- Drop-in (mothers and female carers), north Manchester
- SEND Connect Walk (mothers and female carers), north and south Manchester
- Online Zoom meetings (mothers, fathers and carers - depending on the session scheduled that month)
- Whatsapp Support Network (mothers and female carers)
Get in touch with the RANi team at info@rani.org.uk, 07391 531286 (Sidra) and 07385 707888 (Sundus), https://www.rani.org.uk, Instagram and Facebook @Raising Awareness on Neurodivergent Individuals (RANI).
Free workshops
The Social Communication Pathway in Manchester offers free workshops for parents/carers whose children are either on the waiting list for assessment or have had a formal diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Condition from Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust. Topics cover:
- Understanding Neurodiversity and Wellbeing
- Understanding Communication Differences
- Understanding Sensory Differences
- Understanding and Working with the Education System
Check out Manchester Parent Carer Forum’s website for sessions coming up in the next few months.
|
|
Supported internships
The Manchester College have places left on their Supported Internships for September. This is an exciting opportunity for young people aged 16-24 with an Education, Health and Care plan to get experience of working in an organisation such as the airport, hospitals, the Council or Media City. You can try two or three types of work with the support of a job coach. This will help you decide what paid job you want to do in the future. You can also learn skills such as travel training and build on maths and English skills. Learn more in this flyer. To apply, please contact Jane Fahy at The Manchester College: JFahy@tmc.ac.uk.
Development awards
King’s Trust Development Awards are small grants for young people who need financial support to access education, employment, training, or structured volunteering. The amount of each award depends on your unique needs, future career goals, and personal development plans. Awards are available from £10 right up to a maximum of £500. If you're aged 16 to 30 and not currently working or in education, you could be eligible.
The King’s Trust is there to support you, whether you want to work on your confidence, gain essential skills for work or start a business. Sign up to receive in-person and online support - all for free.
Our work and training section of the Local Offer Information Hub has more on supported internships and other opportunities and resources.
|
|
|
Welfare cuts
The government have proposed major changes to financial support for people of working age who have limiting health condition, coming into effect April 2026. This includes:
- Restrictions to who is entitled to the daily living component of Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
- Reduction in the amount of Universal Credit (UC) for people with limited capacity to work-related activities (LCWRA)
- Restricting LCWRA payments to only those older than 22
The decision to restrict PIP payments may cause carers to lose a range of financial support. Contact, the charity for families with disabled children, have information about the proposals as well as a FAQ to answer some of the most pressing questions from worried parents. There is also this blog from Nicholas Bowles at I-AM - Navigating the New PIP Assessment Changes: What You Need to Know.
What you can do
The Government consultation runs until 30th June. You can respond individually to this, but here are some other, more straightforward ways, you can have a say:
Your voice matters in shaping the future of disability benefits in the UK.
Adult ADHD services
NHS Greater Manchester invite people to take part in a consultation about the future of adult ADHD services. Find all the information about the proposed changes and have your say about them. Closes 17th June 2025.
Forward Together
Forward Together is a new project led by the Challenging Behaviour Foundation, across three regions of the UK, including Manchester/Salford. The aim is to bring together family carers and practitioners with an interest in improving support and services for people with severe or profound learning disabilities and behaviours that may challenge. Facilitated forums will identify local issues, support each other to overcome challenges, and improve co-production and working practices. The first Community of Practice event will take place on Tuesday 17th June 10am-2pm at MediaCityUK, Salford. The contact for this event is ella.giles@thecbf.org.uk. Find out more about the project and how to become part of the local regional network.
If you would like to get our newsletters, find out how to sign up
|
|
|
|
|
