Local Offer SEND Information Hub

For an introduction to who we are and how we can support you, whether you are a parent carer, family member, or working in the city with families, see Welcome to Manchester Local Offer. 

‘About Me’ has been developed in Manchester to give children and young people a concise and clear person-centred profile of just one page or two pages that can be used in all settings. It saves repeating their story. Appointments or social events can also be better when key information is shared beforehand. Download the templates which are easily filled in electronically or can be printed out. 

See our Benefits and grants section. 

Help is available in the city during the cost of living crisis. This free telephone line from Manchester City Council offers support and advice around:

• Benefits and rent
• Debt and paying bills 
• Food support – help to find community food provision near you
• Help to get online - support to access the internet, laptops, phones and data

Call 0800 023 2692, Monday to Friday, 9am-4.30pm. Translations and Sign Video services available upon request.

There is an online contact form for an alternative way to get in touch. 

There is also the Council's 'Help with the cost of living crisis' information hub. 

Winter guides were produced for each area of the city to let people know what is available locally, whether it’s community meals, free activities, food and clothing banks, or financial advice. You can find the guides on the Manchester Local Care Organisation website.

Here is an easy read leaflet, produced during the winter, about help for people in Manchester. It includes what to do if you get ill, support with money and ways to keep warm.

See the 'Benefits and grants', 'Household matters' and 'Transport' sections in this hub for more cost of living support. 

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Update March 2023:

In the coming year, each eligible household will receive a means-tested Cost of Living Payment of £900. This will be split into three instalments: £301 Spring 2023, £300 Autumn 2023 and £299 Spring 2024. Each claimant of Personal Independence Payments, Attendance Allowance and Disability Living Allowance will receive the Disability Cost of Living Payment of £150 during summer 2023. All payments will be made automatically. For more updates, see the Carers Manchester Cost of Living Blog.

Update January 2023:

A £900 cost of living payment for people on means-tested benefits will be paid in three instalments across 2023/24. Eligible claimants will receive £301 in spring; £300 in autumn; and a further £299 in spring 2024. An additional £150 payment for those on disability benefits will be paid in the summer. 

The Energy Price Guarantee, which caps the price of the average domestic energy bill on the variable rate, will be extended for a further 12 months from April 2023. But it will become less generous, with the average bill in 2023/2 being capped at £3,000, rather than the current £2500.

Read more on Contact’s website.

There are three Early Help locality hubs in Manchester. Each hub brings together staff from different agencies, including Manchester City Council. Rather than a service or a single team, it is a way of working with families that helps them to cope with the difficulties they face and supports them to thrive. Early Help is for all children in Manchester up to 18 (or 25 for young people with SEND) but it is recognised that children with special educational needs and disabilities may need more specialist support.

Most of the City Council website information about Early Help is aimed at practitioners, the people who work with families, rather than parents. They would usually refer your family for an Early Help Assessment. You can find out more in the Early Help Practitioners Zone and the Early Help Assessment Journey. You can also contact the hubs directly:

South Early Help Hub:  0161 234 1977, earlyhelpsouth@manchester.gov.uk

North Early Help Hub: 0161 234 1973, earlyhelpnorth@manchester.gov.uk

Central Early Help Hub: 0161 234 1975, earlyhelpcentral@manchester.gov.uk

See our SEND education section. 

See Emotional and mental wellbeing for local and national organisations.  

For local SEND parent carer groups, see Support from organisations.

For under 25s, see our Young people (up to 25) section. 

See our Household matters section. 

Website information on the Local Offer can be translated into numerous languages.

On a computer or tablet - At the top right of each webpage there is an orange circle. Click on this and it opens the ReachDesk, offering a range of accessibility tools. One of these has two small boxes, the front one with an 'A' inside it. Click on this and select the language. 

On a mobile phone - On the top right of each webpage there is an orange circle. (If you can't see it, flick the page to the left. It might be hiding!) Clicking on this opens the ReachDesk. Select the settings button and choose your language. 

Go to our new SEND health section for health matters related to children and young people with SEND, including flu and Covid-19.

The Short Breaks programme is for any disabled child or young person aged up to 18. It involves universal activities, the SEND Community Offer, and a smaller range of additional and specialist support (specifically for disabled children and young people). 

Go to Short Breaks for more information and to get in touch with the Specialist Resource Team.

The Special Education and Disability Information, Advice and Support Manchester (SENDIASS) offers information, advice and support to children, young people and parents/carers about special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). This includes health and social care where it is linked to education. It’s a free, confidential and impartial service, based in the city and commissioned by Manchester City Council.

They have a dedicated Information, Advice and Support IAS line. They also respond to email queries and have a contact form to receive messages from you.

Email:sendiass@manchester.gov.uk

Telephone: 0161 209 8356  

Find out what activities are on offer in our Stuff to do section.

See our Young People (Up to 25) section for activities for that age group. 

Find local and national services in our Support from organisations section. 

Cost of Living Emergency Travel Fund: The Cost of Living Emergency Travel Fund has been set up to provide transport to Manchester patients who are at risk of missing medical appointments due to the cost of living crisis. The fund is for taxi journeys from home to the appointment and then back again. Book through the Cost of Living Advice Line - 0800 023 2692.

Free Travel Training: Our free A-Z Travel Training Programme offers opportunities for young people to gain confidence and independence in travelling around Manchester and beyond. It is for young people with SEND aged 14-25 who live in the Manchester City Council area, offering one-to-one support in accessing leisure activities. That might be the cinema, going to the shops or meeting up with a friend. There will be up to six sessions, each session lasting around three hours, depending on where the young person wants to go. They will also get useful information, e.g. travel cards, CEA cards and Our Pass. To find out more or to register, contact Greater Manchester Youth Network (GMYN) on 0161 234 2950, info@gmyn.co.uk. Part of the SEND Community Offer.

Home To School Transport - Updated February 23: Following completion of the ‘Travel to Access Education and Training Policy' review, here are the updated policies:

• Travel Support to Access Education For Children and Young People With Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) - statutory school age pupils 5 to 16 (Reception to Year 11)

• Post-16 Travel Support to Access Education and Training For Young People With Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) - aged 16 to 25 in education and training

Find out more - and how to get in touch with the team - on the Travel Assistance page. 

Passenger Assistance app: The 'Passenger Assistance’ app makes it easier and quicker for disabled people to ask for assistance with their train journeys. It’s been designed to speed up the booking process for customers and provide frontline staff with real-time information on passengers' requirements.

Ring and Ride: Ring and Ride is an accessible, low-cost mini-bus service for people who have difficulty in using public transport. Visit the Transport for Greater Manchester website.

School transport: School transport is a big concern for families so Contact’s education team hosted a Q and A session to assist parent carers in England with any questions or issues they may be having. Find out the top 5 questions, plus links to further information.

Transport for Sick Children: Manchester Transport For Sick Children has volunteer drivers throughout Greater Manchester who take sick children under 16 to hospital and clinic appointments with their carer/parent. 

See our Young people (up to 25) section.