|
|
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
|
|
Wythenshawe Forum – NEW VENUE!
Wednesday 11th November, 10am-12pm
Our next drop in is at a new venue – Wythenshawe Forum, Simonsway, M22 5RX. We’ll be on the concourse, the open area at the centre of the building. Come and chat to parent/carer groups and local SEND services. Look out for the bulletin early next week with more on the venue and finding it.
|
|
For SEND families in the Manchester City Council area
Free cycling - extended age range!
|
(9-16s) Have your 9-16s with SEND or emotional and mental health needs tried the free cycling? Sessions are every Saturday 11am-3pm, meeting at the Proctor Learning Centre, Hulme Street, Off Jackson Crescent M15 5EF. Bikes, helmets and other safety equipment are provided for cycle routes across Greater Manchester, along with regular bike maintenance sessions. All young people take part in a pre-ride induction before attending Saturday rides but need to be competent riders. Contact Roger Newell at MANCCYCLES for more information and to book places – info@manccycles.co.uk, 07970 922132. Part of the SEND Community Offer for young people living in Manchester.
|
|
|
What happens in winter?
The group cycles up to mid-December unless black ice is on the roads. Roger updates parents on what young people should wear a day before the cycling, so they are warm and wrapped up. Rides start at 11am so the sessions aren't affected by the winter darkness.
|
Cool to be you
(All ages) Cool to be You Game Day is an inclusive free get-together with parents/carers and children and young people with SEND who live in the Manchester City Council area. Enjoy games, books and snacks in the company of people of all neurotypes. The next date of this regular event with Manchester Parent Carer Forum is Thursday 12th November, 4.30-6.30pm at the North Star Centre, City View House, 5 Union Street, Ardwick, M12 4JD. Book here.
Relaxed cinema
The next showing of the Relaxed Cinema is Saturday 21st November, 11am-1pm at Cultplex (part of GRUB), 50 Red Bank, Cheetham Hill, M4 4HF. The cinema is free to families living in the Manchester City Council area, including siblings without SEND. Vote for the film that you would like to see. The poll closes at 12 noon on Sunday 8th November. Bookings open on Wednesday 4th November at 6pm through this link.
|
|
Inclusive firework displays
(All ages) On Saturday 7th November, enjoy free family-friendly events at Wythenshawe Park, Heaton Park and Platt Fields Park. As well as the main showing and lantern parades, there will be reduced-noise, low-impact fireworks displays at each venue at approximately 5pm, designed with families and SEND audiences in mind. The SPACE Group and other parent carer groups have been working with the council to make these events more inclusive, including:
- Lower volume of music with the display
- Designated viewing areas for those needing them.
- Volunteers helping families feel comfortable and safe
- More temporary toilets
- A maximum charge for the funfair side stalls to help keep them affordable
Here are some tips for Bonfire Night from the National Autistic Society
Baby and toddler sessions
(Pre-school) Z-arts Library in Hulme have free stories, songs and sensory play for babies and toddlers every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Book here. Sessions are at the library at 335 Stretford Road, Hulme, M15 5ZA.
Contact your local library to see what they offer for pre-schoolers
Relaxed moments
As well as their regular relaxed concerts, the Halle are now offering monthly Relaxed Moments. Join two Hallé musicians for a more intimate and interactive music session at Hallé St Peter’s, a fully accessible venue on Blossom Street, Ancoats M4 6BF. All responses to the music are accepted and welcomed. Tickets are £10 (carers free of charge) and can be booked via the Hallé website or pay on the door. If doing it online, you only need to book the paid tickets. The next sessions are on Tuesday 10th November at 11.30am and 1.30pm. Learn more.
Christmas comes to the city
The city centre will be lit up with festive magic from Friday 6th November. The Christmas Markets run until Tuesday 22nd December, with ten sites, including Albert Square which is back in full swing this year. All Manchester Christmas Market stalls are 100% accessible, designed with more space than they used to be. Most are on street level and those that aren’t have accessibility ramps. There are also reserved areas with priority seats for older or disabled people. Find out more about accessibility, including the purpose-built changing facilities in Cathedral Gardens, toilet facilities and rest places.
|
|
|
Did you know you can contact the Neurodiversity Navigators without your child having a referral or a diagnosis of autism or ADHD? The Manchester Neurodevelopmental Service - part of Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) - is there as a friendly ear and for community signposting. While they aren’t clinicians or therapists, they are parents and carers with lived experience and committed to helping you navigate your way through the system. Your child or young person just needs to be a City of Manchester resident or be registered with a Manchester based GP. Get in touch by:
The Neurodevelopmental (ND) Service's workshops and drop ins are open to all City of Manchester parents and carers. Find out what's on through the Local Offer listing or the team's Eventbrite page.
|
|
|
Starting school
Early Years SEND drop-in sessions are coming up for parents and carers of children who will be starting school in September 2027. Run by One Education (Educational Psychology Service) and the SEND Early Development Inclusion Team (SEDIT), they include a free one-hour workshop on school placements and SEND, followed by an opportunity to speak directly with team members. They are on:
Communications workshop
‘Understanding autism; conversation cards’ is a free workshop exploring communication. It’s hosted by Equal Education Chances (EEC) in collaboration with Greater Manchester Autism Consortium and the National Autistic Society. It’s on Friday 20th November, 10am-12pm at the EEC Community Hub, BizSpace, Wilson Park, Monsall, Manchester M40 8WN. Light lunch. Register through Eventbrite or call 0161 211 9016.
Under 5s sessions
The charity Contact are hosting a series of free online workshops for parents and carers of children aged 0–5 with SEND in England. Get help with sleep, communication, behaviour, toilet training and more.
Carers Rights Day
Carers Rights Day is a national day that aims to help unpaid carers understand and use their rights. This year, Carers Rights Day falls on Thursday 19th November, but there are free workshops across Manchester during the week.
Find out about your rights in this information from Carers UK.
|
|
Happy birthday SPACE
The SPACE Group Manchester is 6 years old! Come and join your SPACE family at their birthday party and Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Friday 6th November, 11am-1pm at St George’s Community centre Bothwell Rd M40 7NY. No need to book, just turn up for food and fun!
Lowry carers project
Calling Greater Manchester carers aged 16-24! There are places on the Lowry's Young Adult Carers Advisory Group in Salford. Over the coming months, help shape a podcast shining a light on challenges faced by young adult carers. This exciting project started last week, and the sign-up form is still open. You will be supported to take part, including help with transport if needed. Find out more. For any questions or to talk through needs, contact Eloise - eloise.Bonney@thelowry.com or 07930 864887. She works varying hours, so if she doesn’t answer, email or Whatsapp is the best way to reach her.
MPCF coffee morning
Manchester Parent Carer Forum's next Coffee Morning is on Monday 16th November, 10am-12pm, at Martenscroft Nursery and Sure Start Centre in Hulme, 33 Epping Street, M15 6PA. It’s an opportunity to meet and chat to fellow parents and carers of children and young people with SEND in a relaxed and friendly setting. Book through Eventbrite.
Rare conditions support
When you’re busy caring for your child with a rare condition, it can be hard to find time to look after yourself. But your wellbeing matters, too. Join Contact for a free online morning event on Thursday 12th November, 10am-12.30pm, bringing together parent carers, people with lived experience and experts from across the rare condition community to share experiences, practical advice and support.
Friendship Days
Wai Yin Society’s new Friendship Days are opportunities for the Society’s members to make connections with unpaid carers from other communities, and vice versa. The first gathering is on Monday 21st December, 11am-1pm at the Sheung Lok Centre, Justin Close, Manchester, M13 9UB. At this inaugural friendship day, carers will enjoy Chinese dishes and are invited to bring and share food from their own cultures. Email Sou Ha Yung at sou_ha@waiyin.org.uk.
Learn more about Wai Yin’s services, including their specialist support for women with experience of domestic abuse.
Going to the dentist
Autism Central has a new blog for families supporting autistic people with going to the dentist. Written by Ann Memmott, who is autistic herself, it includes tips on how to make it a more positive experience.
Carer's Allowance update
Unpaid carers will no longer lose their entire Carer’s Allowance award if they go over the weekly earnings limit. In a huge win for Contact’s parent carer campaigners, the Carer’s Allowance earnings limit will become tapered. Carers will lose £1 of their award for every £1 they earn over the limit, currently £204 a week. Learn more about Carer's Allowance and eligibility.
Behind the headlines
The charity Contact is deeply concerned by ongoing media speculation that disabled children receive too much financial support. This narrative is not only misleading; it fails to reflect the daily realities of disabled children and their families. Most recently, Disability Living Allowance (DLA) has come under scrutiny. DLA is a vital benefit that helps families meet the additional costs of caring for a disabled child. Contact believe it’s important to challenge misconceptions and set the record straight – read about what DLA is, why it matters, and what it is not.
|
|
SEND Reform
Experts at Hand post-16
Help One Education, along with Manchester Parent Carer Forum (MPCF), develop the the Experts at Hand offer for mainstream post-16 settings in Manchester, part of the SEND Reform. There's a session for the city's parent/carers on Tuesday 10th November, 1-2pm at Moss Side Millennium Powerhouse, 140 Raby Street, M14 4SL, with light lunch. (Note: This is an update to what was shared in the last newsletter.)
School exclusion
The Department for Education is seeking evidence and views from practitioners, researchers and other stakeholders on proposed school exclusion reforms outlined in the Schools white paper. The reforms relate to the use of internal suspension, reintegration support partnerships following a suspension, and provision of schoolwork during the first 5 days of suspension and permanent exclusion. Closes 19th November.
 Parent and toddler support
Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) are working on a 2-year pilot project to improve parent-toddler relationship support as part of their Early Years and School Readiness programme. They want to hear from parents and practitioners to help them understand what is needed for positive well-being support for children aged 2-5 years and their families. Read more. Parent carer survey closes on Friday 13th November.
|
|
Supported activity programme
There’s an exciting, new 12-week supported activity programme for disabled people aged 16 and over who live in the Manchester City Council area. It includes gym-based support, inclusive group exercise classes and opportunities to try different sports, with a maximum of 12 people per session – all for free. Carers and support workers are welcome. To be eligible, participants need to receive Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and/or hold a Disabled ID Card. The programme is starting off at Abraham Moss and Moss Side Leisure Centres but can move to where the demand is coming from. Get in touch and they will add you to a list and let you know about a potential start date - email MCRWellbeing@gll.org with your preferred contact details.
AutismWISE
AutismWISE offers free signposting support for adults with a Manchester City postcode and a diagnosis of autism. Choose from multiple services, including employment assistance, talking therapy, community activities and referrals to specialised support. Friendly staff will connect you with services and support that reflect your needs, interests and personal goals. This is more than the usual signposting. AutismWISE, part of Pure Innovations, work closely with partners like Respect For All, I Am Autism and Nordoff and Robbins Music Therapy. Find out more. You can self-refer or ask someone to do it for you. You are also welcome to get in touch at autismwise@pureinnovations.co.uk or 0161 669 3510.
|
|
|
|
|
