Our Next Drop In 

Our next drop in is on Wednesday 18th May 10am-12 noon at Manchester Youth Zone in Harpurhey. It’s a chance to meet services and ask your SEND-related questions, including education, travel, stuff to do and Early Help. You can also chat with Manchester Parent Carer Forum (MPCF), Manchester Parent Champions and other parent carers. We’ll be sending out more information soon. Look out for it in your inbox!

Future dates:

Wednesday 15th June, Moss Side Powerhouse, 10am-12 noon

Wednesday 13th July, Woodhouse Park Lifestyle Centre, 10am-12 noon

Housing Listening Session

Do you have lived experience of the Council housing system? You’re invited to an online informal conversation with Manchester City Council to look at the barriers relating to housing for disabled children/young people and their families. The aim is to have an open and honest discussion between parents and carers, housing staff, and the Council’s SEND team. It’s on Tuesday 10th May, 10am-12 noon. Find out how to register, and how to contribute if you can't attend, on the Manchester Parent Carer Forum website.

Stuff To Do

Sign Up For Flip

There’s still time for young people to take part in a series of free music-making and skateboarding sessions at Projekts skatepark near Piccadilly. It's a chance to enjoy an hour of skateboard coaching, followed by an hour of music-making with Billy and Andy who offer accessible music workshops. The first session starts on Friday 6th May and then it's Fridays 4.30-6.30pm into July. Family are more than welcome to hang out in the cafe during the sessions or watch the skateboarders from the viewing balcony. To book places, contact info@billyandandy.co.uk, 07429 826053. Part of the SEND Community Offer.

Inclusive Swims Are Back

Inclusive swims have started again at Moss Side Leisure Centre on Sundays 9-11.30am. These provide a calm environment and a clear process from entry to the pool for children and young people with special needs and disabilities. Families can access the small pool and floats for family fun or use the main pool for lane swimming. It’s the same price as the casual swimming. Book via the website, by visiting the leisure centre, or through the BetterUK App which can be downloaded from Google Play or the Apple App Store. Families can also turn up on the day but may miss out if the session is full.

Wheels For All Open Day

Join this free event for all abilities and ages, learning more about inclusive cycling and having your say on future plans for Wheels for All at Debdale Park. It’s on Tuesday 17th May, 11am-3pm, Debdale Park, Manchester, M18 7LJ. Book using this link. For further information, contact Jim Yeoman, jim.yeoman@cycling.org.uk, 07736 974537. Find out more about the regular Wheels For All Debdale sessions on the Cycling UK website. 

Active Travel Family Fun Day 

There’s a free Active Travel Family Fun Day this Saturday 7th May 11am-2pm at No. 93 Wellbeing Centre, 93 Church lane, Harpurhey, M9 5BG. Activities include a climbing wall, learn to cycle sessions (bikes provided), face painting, wellbeing exercise, and stalls. Simply Cycling will be there and Phil Samphire who offers travel training as part of the SEND Community Offer. 

Inclusive Sundays At Manchester Youth Zone

From 5th June, the Inclusion Sessions at Manchester Youth Zone are moving back to Sundays, 12-3pm. These offer a wide range of activities for young people with disabilities and additional needs aged 8-25 years old. All young people need to become members of Manchester Youth Zone (£5 per year, 50p per session) and book on a new members meeting and induction before attending sessions. They can do this by contacting Corrina on 0161 203 5333 or corrina.aitchison-hayles@manchesteryz.org.

Newman Holiday Trust

The Newman Holiday Trust is running its North West Holiday this summer, returning to Stonyhurst College in Clitheroe, 7th-12th August. The holidays are free to young people who otherwise wouldn’t get a holiday, whether for medical, social, economic or other reasons and are a mix of activities, trips and visitors. Parents and professionals are welcome to reapply each year. Find out more on the Newman Holiday Trust website and apply using this online form.

Support For Carers

Carers Fest 2022

Gaddum are excited to announce that Carers Fest is back for 2022 and taking place during Carers Week. It’s on Saturday 11th June 2022, 11am – 4pm at Old Trafford Football Stadium. The event is for unpaid carers across Greater Manchester and will feature a range of guests, groups and organisations offering fun workshops, helpful information, speeches, performances and lots more. Book your free place on Carers Manchester website.

Support From Carers Manchester

Carers Manchester has workshops coming up on Being a Carer and Welfare & Benefits, as well as regular carers groups around the city. See their events webpage to find out what’s on. You can also download the latest newsletter and sign up to get them straight in your inbox.

Autism Events For Parent Carers

Greater Manchester Autism Consortium has a number of events coming up, including a dad’s drop in, a parent drop in, the launch of the GM Autism Strategy, and a number of other seminars. See GMAC’s event page for what’s on.

Free Speech & Language Workshops

Contact have free Speech & Language workshops in June for parent carers of disabled children aged 4 to 16. Book through Eventbrite by clicking on the links.   Primary school: Wednesday 8th June 7-9pm http://bit.ly/3EiOQ2c, Thursday 30th June 10am-12 noon http://bit.ly/3rxlyHM Secondary school: Tuesday 14th June 7-9pm http://bit.ly/3OiSv4w, Thursday 23rd June 9-11am http://bit.ly/3M7PrX9 Contact run workshops for parent carers throughout the year. See their workshop and events webpage.

Relationship Guide

For many parents, bringing up a disabled child can bring them closer together — but that isn't always the case. See Contact’s relationship guide to help you look after your relationship, manage your differences, protect your child from conflict and handle a relationship under strain. You can also book a free and confidential telephone call with one of Contact’s Listening Ear team.

Breaks For Carers

Carefree offer short breaks at minimal cost for full-time unpaid carers in need of some time off. Find out more on their website.

Understanding The System

NHS Healthy Start

If you’re more than 10 weeks pregnant or have a child under 4, you may be able get help to buy healthy food and milk. If eligible, you’ll be sent a Healthy Start card with money on it that can be used in some UK shops to buy plain liquid cow’s milk, fruit and vegetables, pulses, and infant formula milk based on cow’s milk. You can also use the card to collect Healthy Start vitamins. Find out about more about the scheme at NHS Healthy Start, which includes information on applying and eligibility.

Disability Allowance

Disability Allowance is the main benefit for children under 16 with a condition or disability. Getting this benefit can be life changing but the form is long and requires lots of information. Contact’s benefits expert Derek has recorded three videos taking you through the process. You can also read tips on completing the DLA form. Contact’s Frequently Asked Questions tool can help you find answers to some of the most common questions about DLA and other benefits.

Carers Allowance

Almost 100 parent carers took part in Contact’s recent Q&A about Carers Allowance. Here are some of the top questions and you can read the remaining questions and answers by flicking through the post in Contact’s private Facebook group. For more information about Carer’s Allowance and the changes, see Contact’s website. 

Understanding The System With Manchester Mind

Manchester Volunteer Advice Partnership are offering free in-person Understanding the System workshops:   Tuesday 10th May - Housing landlord and tenant responsibilities, how to deal with issues, housing options in Manchester and help with housing costs.   Tuesday 17th May - An overview of welfare benefits, managing a Universal Credit claim and how to deal with issues.   Tuesday 24th May - Working out a household budget, dealing with debts, finding out about other financial help and grants.   All workshops run from 10am-12pm at the Wai Yin Welcome Centre, Cheetham Hill M8 0TW. Contact ambyfawcett@manchestermind.org or call 07549 032668 to book.

Lasting Power Of Attorney & Wills Advice

Lasting Power of Attorney and Wills Advice Session - Tuesday 24th May, 2-4.30pm, The Curve, Prestwich. Join Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust for a free advice session with a qualified solicitor. It covers the different types of Power of Attorney and their benefits, mental capacity and the role of Court of Protection, what type of will parents need to make to protect their loved ones, and ensuring any benefits and local authority support will continue in the future. To book email niel.grace@gmmh.nhs.uk or call 0161 357 1246. There is also a session on Wednesday 28th September from 10am-12.30pm. 

Our Year Poetry Competition

Manchester is dedicating 2022 to young people. As part of this, there’s an exciting poetry competition to gather children and young people’s hopes and dreams for a future Manchester. Entries are open to 4-25 year olds and can be in the form of a poem, film, beatbox, rap, animation, zine, spoken word, BSL or Makaton – whatever! There are prizes for different age categories and winning entrants will be invited to a celebratory event, with all entries forming part of an archive of the city’s historical records. To enter, please use the online entry form or email ouryear@manchester.gov.uk, include name and age. Closing date: 21st May. Find out more on the Our Year website.

News In Brief