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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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Be part of a local response!
SEND Reform Parent Engagement Event
Wednesday 6th May, 11am till 1pm
St Thomas Centre, Ardwick Green North M12 6FZ
Hosted by MPCF and SENDIASS
- A face-to-face session with Manchester Parent Carer Forum and Manchester’s SEND Information, Advice and Support Service
- Explore the key proposals in the schools white paper and the SEND Reform consultation
- Arm yourself with the knowledge to respond with confidence
- Share your views as part of MPCF’s organisational response
- Lunch included
 Tea Party SEND Rally
Saturday 9th May, 2pm till 4pm
The Dandelion Community Centre, Oatlands Road, Wythenshawe M22 1AH
Hosted by Our Space Youth Club and SEND Together
- Enjoy tea, conversation and community
- Hear a few speeches from key people
- Share your views and concerns on the SEND white paper
- MPs, councillors and other professionals have been invited to hear your voice
- Arts and crafts for the children
- Just come along - no need to book
Can't make it? Do Our Space/SEND Together's survey!
This survey has been created by Our Space Youth Club and SEND Together to capture your views. Responses will be collected together and sent to MPs and parliament as part of the national consultation. Do the survey by Wednesday 13th May.
Dingley's Promise sessions
Do you have a SEND child under 8? Explore the SEND proposals with Dingley's Promise and contribute to the consultation. The online sessions are: Tuesday 12th May 12–1pm, Wednesday 13th May 6–7pm and Thursday 14th May 6–7pm. Find out more and book your place through MPCF.
Consultation closes May 18th 2026
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Calling SENCOs!
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Our next SEND Drop In is on Wednesday 20th May at Moss Side Powerhouse, 140 Raby Street, M14 4SL. This free event is aimed at parents/carers and young people with SEND up to 25 in the Manchester City Council area but professionals are welcome too. Find out about support for families in Manchester.
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Future drop ins, 10am-12pm:
Wednesday 17th June, Manchester Youth Zone, Harpurhey
Wednesday 15th July, Lifestyle Centre, Wythenshawe
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Relaxed cinema - SEND Community Offer!
(To be decided) The next showing of the Relaxed Cinema with Manchester Parent Carer Forum is on Saturday 9th May 11am-1pm at Cultplex (part of GRUB), 50 Red Bank, Cheetham Hill, M4 4HF. Help choose the movie by answering this poll. Closes 3pm, Friday 1st May. The cinema is free to families living in the Manchester City Council area, including siblings without SEND. Popcorn included. Please book through the link when it goes live.
Quiet mornings
(All ages) Quiet Mornings are free creative play sessions at Whitworth Art Gallery, running from 10.30am to 12.30pm every last Sunday of the month, term time. No need to book, just drop in. Upcoming sessions: Sunday 31st May and Sunday 28th June. They are specially designed by 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.
Limitless cycling
(Various) Limitless is British Cycling’s inclusive cycling programme. It provides cycling opportunities for disabled children and adults, regardless of age, impairment and ability. The National Cycling Centre runs a number of Limitless sessions each week. Find out more on the Local Offer. The centre also runs cycling sessions in the holidays. This includes a learning to ride course and a new course ‘Pedal Progression’. If you have any questions around accessibility and suitability, please feel welcome to get in touch with Dawn at the centre – Dawn.Martin@GLL.ORG.
Family space adventures
(All ages) Join Manchester Central Library for a space-themed day of fun as they celebrate the arrival of ‘Planetarium Go!’ in Manchester. The free drop in is on Saturday 9th May, 1-4pm at Manchester Central Library Performance Space on the ground floor. Get ready for space hopping, wacky experiments, moon walking, moon rock races, and more, including a Family Film Club: Planetarium Go! Special.
Lego club
(4+) Do you love Lego? So does Manchester Central Library! Drop in to their regular club, pick your favourite bricks and build anything that takes your fancy. The next club is Saturday 16th May, 2pm on the lower ground floor. Free - first come first served. Suitable for ages 4 and above. Contact your local library to see if there’s a Lego Club near you.
Family festival
(All ages) Visit Stoller Hall this May for a fun-filled weekend of musical concerts and activities for the whole family. There are ticketed events throughout the weekend, with ticket bookers able to enjoy a series of free drop-in events around the building. Saturday 23rd May is designed for families living with SEND, offering concerts and musical experiences which are accessible and sensory-friendly. On Sunday 24th May, experience, make, and enjoy live music during this jam-packed day of concerts and hands-on activities for younger families. Stoller Hall is at Chetham’s School of Music, Long Millgate, opposite Victoria Station, M3 1SB. Find out more and book tickets.
Have you tried one of the free relaxed concerts at Stoller Hall? They're at 1.30pm on the first Wednesday of each month in term time. All welcome!
Books and Beats
(6-11) Books and Beats is on Saturday 23rd May, 10.30-11.30am at the House of Books and Friends, 81 King Street, Manchester M2 4AH. It's a relaxed, musical storytelling session designed for children with SEND aged 6-11 and their families. Tickets are £5 per young person (an accompanying adult goes free). There are also complimentary tickets for anyone who needs it. Find out more and book.
Girls group
(School Years 3-7) Girl Friendly Society is a fun weekly group for girls where they can be themselves. It’s every Wednesday in term time, 5.45-7.15pm, for all girls in School Years 3-7 at Projekts MCR, 41 Baring St, Manchester M1 2PY. While it’s £2 per week, fee waivers are available to all who need them. Find out more.
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ReachDeck is back on the Local Offer website! It offers a range of accessibility features, including having the text read out loud, magnifying it and creating an MP3 of the content. You can also easily translate Local Offer web information into other languages.
Where to find it
When you’re in the Local Offer, look for the orange circle with the white stick figure on the bottom left of the page. Click to open ReachDeck. Find further features by clicking ‘Accessibility’ at the top of the webpages.
Carers Manchester - Click the British flag/’English’ symbol to change the language. There is also a wheelchair symbol which you can use to change several accessibility settings such as font size and contrast.
Contact - A language and accessibility toolbar can be found at the top of their webpage or in the menu options.
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Election day
Local elections will take place on Thursday 7th May, with polling stations open in Manchester between 7am-10pm. Photo ID will be needed to cast a vote. This Manchester City Council information tells you what types of ID are accepted. There is also this information on accessibility at polling stations. My Vote My Voice have a downloadable document that can be personalised and shown to polling staff so they can understand the reasonable adjustments needed and the laws which support them.
Young carer sessions
Newleaf Foundation is running free activity sessions for young carers aged 5-16 at Clayton Family Hub, 101 North Rd, M11 4NE. These fun, social sessions on Thursdays 4-6pm give young carers the chance to build confidence, learn life skills, and make friends in a relaxed, supportive setting outside of school. Contact Newleaf Foundation to find out more and book places - 07577 979018, info@newleaf-foundation.org.uk.
Money matters
Universal Credit update
The government removed the two-child limit on Universal Credit from 6th April 2026. All families with three or more children can now claim the main child element of £303.94pcm for all the children they are responsible for. Some families won’t have to do anything to get the payments, but others will. Read Contact’s news story.
Finance webinar
There’s a short webinar on Monday 8th June, 6-6.30pm, about financial support for families. It will cover information on benefit checker tools, Citizens Advice support, access to energy grants and Credit Union offers. Register here.
PIP review
Share your views on the government’s review of Personal Independence Payment (PIP), the main benefit for disabled adults. See Contact’s information. The Call for Evidence closes on Thursday 28th May.
Parent/carer peer group
The Sacred Heart Family Hub in Gorton runs a peer group for parents/carers every first Thursday of the month, 1-3pm, with guest activities:
- May 7th – Carers Manchester
- June 4th – SENDIASS, discussing EHCPs
- July 2nd – Basic first aid with Cookson Training
The Gorton Sacred Heart Family Hub is on Glencastle Road, Gorton M18 7NE, 0161 245 7180.
Autism Wellbeing Hub
The Centre for Autism Wellbeing Hub in Reading is hosting a free hybrid event on Wednesday 6th May exploring what supports autistic children to flourish in education and everyday life. It features Andy Smith from Spectrum Gaming. The online event is from 7-8.30pm. Register here.
Forward together
There’s an online drop in session coming up with Forward Together for family carers of individuals with severe or profound learning disabilities in Manchester and Salford. It’s on Wednesday 13th May, 10am-12pm. Contact forwardtogether@thecbf.org.uk for more information or to confirm your attendance.
Sensory guidance
Contact have published some new resources to help you understand and identify sensory processing differences and use strategies and techniques to support your child to stay calm and regulated. Visit their sensory processing differences webpage or download their factsheet, Understanding your child’s sensory needs.
Fake 'cures'
Some products or services claiming to be cures or treatments for autism are fake and can be harmful. This NHS information has guidance on how to spot and report them.
Greater Manchester Higher
Success4Life is a free after school programme for young carers or those who are care-experienced in Y8-9 showcasing future education pathways and building skills.
If you are interested in nominating a young person, please complete the form by Friday 15th May.
Campus visits
Greater Manchester Higher offers bespoke campus visits for learners in Years 7-13 from under-represented groups. This includes students with a disability, young carers, those estranged from their families and refugees and asylum seekers. Visits can be individual or as part of a group. Learn more.
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Join Team Wythenshawe
Team Wythenshawe is part of The King’s Trust Team Programme at The Manchester College, Wythenshawe Campus, Brownley Road, Wythenshawe, M22 9UH. It’s a free 12-week, full‑time personal development course for young people aged 16–24 who are not in education, employment or training (NEET). It builds your confidence, communication, teamwork and employability skills, while supporting you in your next steps. The next programme starts on Monday 11th May. It’s free and doesn’t affect benefits. Recruitment is up until the start date. Apply yourself or by referral, like a youth worker or other professional. The contact is Glen Hobbs, King’s Trust Team Programme - GHobbs@tmc.ac.uk, 07730 617887.
Cafe Autistique
The next 'Cafe Autistique' is on Wednesday 27th May, 5.30pm-8.30pm at the Contact Theatre, Space O on the ground floor. Researchers Freddie Jones and Phoebe Walker-Sharpe will be sharing their recent work. Book your place on this free event.
Sewing Bee call out
The Great British Sewing Bee are currently casting for Series 13. They would warmly welcome applications from disabled people and those with long-term health conditions who have a passion for sewing and creating their own clothes. Submit applications here by 8pm on Wednesday 13th May 2026.
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National Diversity Awards
Vote in the National Diversity Awards! The UK’s most prestigious diversity event celebrates the achievements of grass-root communities that tackle the issues in today’s society. Manchester has two parent/carer groups nominated in the Community Organisation Award for Disability category:
Nominations close on 13th May. Thank you to both groups for all you do - and best of luck.
Celebrating carers
Carers Manchester are hosting a Celebration Evening on Saturday 13th June, from 6.30-11.30pm at the Sheridan. 200 unpaid carers have been nominated by the public to attend free of charge. General admission tickets are now available at a rate of £45 per person for anyone else who wishes to attend, including a non-alcoholic arrival drink, three-course meal and live entertainment.
Lived Experience Panel - Carers Manchester are still recruiting carers to join their Lived Experience Panel. Use your expertise to shape services which impact carers - and be paid for your time. They are particularly interested in hearing from young adult carers aged 18-25 and North Manchester residents.
Spirit of Manchester
The Spirit of Manchester 2026 Awards are still open for nominations!
Do you know someone or a group that should be acknowledged and thanked for their outstanding efforts over the last year? It can be anyone – friend, neighbour or local community group. They just need to live in the city of Manchester or have delivered their support here. See the categories in this year’s Spirit of Manchester Awards and nominate them. Closes at 12pm on 5th May.
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