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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SEND Community Offer

Here are the latest summer activities for SEND families in the Manchester City Council area!

MPCF - Going live!

All Manchester Parent Carer Forum activities will be booked through Eventbrite. Please book on TWO activities only so more families can take part.    Half the places will go live tomorrow, Wednesday 15th July, 10am. The other half will go live on Thursday 16th July, 6pm.

• Museum Fun Day, Great Manchester Police Museum, city centre, Friday 24th July, 1-3pm
• Early Years Stay and Play, Hulme, Monday 27th July, 1-3pm
• Relaxed cinema, Cineworld, Didsbury, Wednesday 29th July, 2-4pm
• Museum Fun Day, Manchester Museum, city centre, Thursday 13th August, 1-4pm (A joint event with the Parent Champions)
• Cool To Be You, Ardwick, Thursday 13th August, 4-6pm
• Museum Fun Day, Museum of Transport, Sunday 16th August, 12-3pm (A joint event with the Parent Champions)
• Small Animals, Big Curiosity, Moss Side Powerhouse, Wednesday 19th August, 1-3pm
• Relaxed cinema, Cultplex, city centre, Sunday 30th August, 11am-1pm
• Bowling, Tenpin, Harpurhey, to be arranged

The full listing will be posted on MPCF's Summer 2026 webpage

If you need help with the Eventbrite bookings, come to the Local Offer Drop In at Wythenshawe tomorrow. (MPCF can't guarantee places.) The Local Offer team can also help with Eventbrite bookings over the phone - call 0161 219 2125.

Community Kitchen - NEW!

(All ages) The Community Kitchen is returning for Summer! Sessions are for young people with SEND and/or social emotional and mental health needs (SEMH) in the Manchester City Council area. It’s an invitation to come with the family and cook (and eat!) together, learning about healthy food, cooking and BBQ skills in an alfresco (open air) style.

The dates are Mondays 3rd, 10th and 24th August, 2.30-5.30pm. Another date may be added depending on numbers. The menu is based on traditional Caribbean with a mixture of cultures, including drum smoked BBQ salmon, BBQ chicken, steam fish, vegetarian and vegan choices, and homemade drinks. All food and tuition provided. Sessions are at Proctor Young People's Centre, Hulme Street, Off Jackson Crescent M15 5EF. Please arrive on time. Parking available. Booking essential - call Roger on 07970 922132.

SPACE and 4CT - Last places!

There are places left on some of the coach trips, Tree Top Nets and Simply Cycling. Please read this additional information before booking:

Coach trips 

(All ages) The remaining places on coach trips with The SPACE Group and 4CT Ltd go live on Eventbrite on Wednesday 15th July at 6.30pm. There is no limit on how many you can book. Maximum 2 adults per trip.

Tree Top Nets

(3+) Any left over availability for the Tree Top Nets in Weeks 1 and 2 of the Holidays will be offered by text. To express interest, text NETS and number of places to 07708 932215 before 10am on Sunday 19th July. Send one text only. It won't be responded to before Sunday.

Simply Cycling

(All ages) Available spaces on Simply Cycling sessions at Boggart Hole Clough (North) and Wythenshawe Park (South) are being offered by text. To express interest, text NORTH CYCLING or SOUTH CYCLING and number of places to 07749 116211 before 10am on Sunday 19th July. Send one text only. It won't be responded to before Sunday.

See last week's newsletter for sensory rooms (all ages), Bandaoke (16-25s) and MCR Social (14-25s).

Roza from MCR Social will be at the Wythenshawe Drop In tomorrow, Wednesday 15th July, to answer any questions and do sign ups.

Cycling weekend - coming up!

(Various) The National Cycling Centre is opening its doors on Saturday 18th and Sunday 19th July, giving confident riders the opportunity to experience free cycling in one of the UK's most iconic venues ahead of the Commonwealth Games. Saturday is aimed at younger riders, Sunday at adults. Find out more and book your places. (Book under 'Open Weekend', making sure you have the right dates selected in the calendar.)

Learn to ride sessions

(3-12) For less confident bikers, there are ‘Learn to Ride’ sessions with the National Cycling Centre over the summer. Give your child the confidence to get on two wheels with fun 45-minute Learn to Ride sessions. Suitable for children aged 3–5 years and 6–12 years. Led by a qualified coach, with bikes and helmets provided. Paid activity. Find out more and book. 

Hulme Play Day

(All ages) Join the Z-arts Creative Team in Hulme Park (M15 5TQ) for a National Play Day event on Wednesday 5th August, 11am-1pm. Get stuck into messy play, spark your imagination with creative play, get moving with sporty play and take on the role with dress-up play. It’s free, it’s fun, and it’s for everyone. See what else is on at Z-arts this summer.

SEND Multisports

Loads to do

(Various) Find fun things to do over the summer holidays in Loads To Do, including Parktastic and free swimming. There is also the free holiday club programme for children aged 5-16 on benefits-related free school meals, booked via Manchester Active. Money Saving Central has a list of places kids can eat for free or for a £1 over the summer holidays.

This week's drop in

Wednesday 15th July, 10am-12 noon

Lifestyle Centre, Wythenshawe

• Don't know where to turn? 

• Feeling overwhelmed by the SEND system? 

• Want to find support? 

Come along to the Woodhouse Park Lifestyle Centre, Portway, M22 1QW, to get support from experienced parent carers and a range of professionals. 

We take a break in August – drop ins return in September

Supported Internship opportunities

Register interest by Wednesday 22nd July!

A range of Supported Internships are coming up for young Manchester people aged 16-24 who aren’t in education, employment or training and don’t have an EHCP. It’s a chance to learn job skills in work placements and gain qualifications. There are opportunities in the sport and leisure sector and with social housing providers. Placements in the care sector and construction are being confirmed this summer. To help with food and travel costs, there’s a £50 bursary payment a week.

To find out more, send an email to manchester@careerconnect.org.uk by Wednesday 22nd July letting them know you are interested. If you have any questions or would like to talk about how the Support Internship can meet your support needs, call Katie, the Career Connect adviser, on 0161 232 7863.

What are Supported Internships?

They are work-based study placements within employment settings. The aim is to secure a job at the end of the placement. Placements often last about six months and are at least 20 hours per week. 

Supported Internships are usually offered to young people with an EHCP, so this is a great opportunity for young people who don’t have one. Read more about the pilot programme and young people’s positive experiences of it.

Other news

Mobile phone guidance

The Department for Education (DfE)’s guidance on mobile phones in school is now statutory. Schools will begin following the guidance from 1st September. The charity Contact are pleased the guidance makes clear that schools must comply with their legal duties toward disabled pupils. There may be cases where access to a mobile phone in school is considered a reasonable adjustment. Likewise, pupils might need to use a phone to manage medical needs.

Digital guide

The city’s Digital Inclusion team have produced a handy resource for Manchester residents. Learn where you can access the internet, buy low-cost devices and get help with digital skills. The booklet can be downloaded as a pdf or plain text. If you would like a printed copy or have questions, email digitalinclusion@manchester.gov.uk.

A new path ahead

Autism Alliance have produced a report ‘A New Path Ahead’, aimed at influencing the current national review into mental health, ADHD and autism. Developed with autistic young people and adults, parents/carers, researchers and clinicians, and charities, it makes the point that services are still too reliant on diagnosis as a gateway to support. This creates long waits and people are missing out on help. A ‘needs-led’ approach has potential but will only work if there is proper system-wide investment and change alongside it. Here is a link to the full report, with a two-page summary and an easy read version.

Report on adult social care

The Greater Manchester Social Care Commission was set up to help improve adult social care. People with lived experience and in the social care system looked at three areas: accessible information and communication, social care charging and advocacy. 

Their ideas for change and recommendations are in an Easy Read report. The webpage also has plain text and BSL versions.

Young carer news

Dream Worlds

Manchester young carers took part in an imaginative exhibition at HOME Manchester – Little Manchester Open: Dream Worlds. It runs until Sunday 6th September.

Young Carers in Space

The BBC’s CBeebies Bedtime Stories catalogue now includes its first ever book on young carers. Ana Graça’s beautiful picture book ‘Young Carers in Space' is read by well-known actor and TV presenter Natalie Cassidy.

Social network for 15-17s

Manchester City Council are exploring a new social network run by and for young adult carers aged 15-17, with support from partners and creative collaborators at HOME Manchester. The Young Adult Carers Network will offer free social activities in a way that is relaxed and completely optional. Register interest to find out more. There will be a summer social event to help shape the plans. 

Have your say

Carer's Allowance call

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is calling for evidence to help shape the future of Carer's Allowance. It is gathering views on: modernising the earnings limit to reduce the impact of the current cliff edge, improving predictability for carers with varying incomes, and better supporting those with work and caring responsibilities. Here is the call for evidence, telling you the different ways you can respond. Closes Tuesday 18th August.

PIP update

Last week saw the publication of the interim report on the Timms Review of PIP. It explains how the Review is being co-produced with disabled people and wider stakeholders, what the steering group has heard so far, and how its work will continue over the coming months. Read responses from Disability Rights UK and the Activity Alliance. You have a couple of days to do the local parent carer survey on PIP organised by Jo Hampson and Amy Louise Seton. They have been asked to send a response by 17th July. If you want to share views by phone or email, contact Jo at jo_chloe@hotmail.com or 07745 164007. 

A say on play

Manchester City Council's Youth, Play and Participation service are carrying out research into children's time, space and permission to play in their local communities. Here are some questions aimed at parents/carers. The team would love to hear from you to help capture the experiences of children with SEND. Closes Sunday 9th August.

localoffer@manchester.gov.uk / 0161 219 2125 Welcome to Manchester Local Offer  Local Offer SEND Information Hub

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