Stuff to do - Highlights

Community Media Crew: (18+) An alternative day service in Wythenshawe for learning disabled and autistic people over the age of 18 interested in film-making and acting.

Creative Cultural directory: (Various) Find creative careers programmes, free arts groups, workshops and youth voice groups. Sign up to MADE's newsletter. 

HOME Young Creatives: (14-25) Offer different programmes throughout the year. 

Open Doors: (All ages) Autism friendly sessions at Manchester Art Gallery.

Quiet Mornings: (All ages) Free, multi-sensory, open-ended play sessions at the Whitworth Art Gallery for families with additional needs. 

Music Centres: (Various) Manchester has a range of inclusive and open access music centres across the city that offer free activities. 

Relaxed concerts: (All ages) Chetham’s School of Music offer relaxed performances for a range of audiences, including families, autistic and learning disabled people and those new to concerts and performances.

Relaxed concerts - Halle: (All ages) Join the 26-piece Hallé ensemble for the chance to listen to popular, classical music in a relaxed and informal way.

Relaxed theatre group: (12-18) A friendly theatre group at the Palace Theatre which engages autistic young people  (Charged activity) 

Sing and Sign: (All ages) For parent carers and children every Tuesday evening from 5.30-7pm at Talbot House in Newton Heath.

Starling: (10-17) A programme of free creative wellbeing activities in Trafford and Tameside for neurodivergent young people. Open to wider Manchester area.

The Edge, Chorlton: (Various) Activies for learning disabled people; Aspire theatre programme (8-12, 13-19); Expressive Edge Theatre Company (18+); Stepping Out dance class (18+).

The Horsfall: (13-25) The creative programme of 42nd Street, supporting young people's mental wellbeing.

Venture Arts: (Various) Based in Hulme, supporting learning disabled artists to reach their full potential.

Z-Arts accessible art: (8-16) Z-Arts in Hulme have a free ‘Creative Care – Art for Kids with Additional Needs’ session every other Saturday. 

Everyone Can: (5+) Gaming sessions at their Technology and Gaming Centre in Sale.

Spectrum Gaming: (10-17) A friendly and accepting community for autistic young people who have a shared passion for gaming.

Ability Group, Wythenshawe: (13-25) A free group every Tuesday evening 6-8pm at The Woodhouse Park Lifestyle Centre in Wythenshawe.

Board games, chess clubs and Manga: (All ages) Central Library and other libraries have regular clubs. 

Calibre audiobooks: (All ages) Free collection of audiobooks for people living with a print disability, including disabled and neurodivergent children.

Children's Library: (All ages) The Z-Arts Children’s Library in Hulme is home to lots of books that celebrate diversity and has been designed for families where there are disabilities and additional requirements.

Cinema - CEA Card: (5+) The Card enables a disabled cinema guest to receive a complimentary ticket for someone to go with them when they visit a participating cinema. 

Heaton Park: (All ages) This huge family park with a free animal centre, two play areas and lots of places for walking and picnics. During the season, there is rowing and tram rides (paid activity). 

HideOut Youth Zone, Gorton: (8-25) There is a Sunday Club for young people who identify as having additional needs or a disability. 

Lego clubs: (Suitable for 4+) Regular Lego Club at Central Library. Ask your local library if they have a club, too. 

Libraries bulletin: (All ages) There's a regular bulletin for children and families full of ideas and resources from Manchester Libraries and partners.

Loads To Do: (All ages) A one-stop shop to finding out about culture, leisure and sports activities in the city and near you.

Manchester Deaf Centre Children and Young People’s Service: (0-24) The service works with children and young people, welcoming Deaf, Hard of hearing and Deafblind children and young people, as well as children of deaf adults (CODA) and those who have deaf siblings. Various groups. 

Manchester Youth Zone, Harpurhey: (8-25) Manchester Youth Zone has two inclusion sessions on Sundays.

Market Garden community day: Platt Fields Market Garden, off Mabfield Road, Fallowfield, M14 6LT, has free, drop in community days on Wednesdays with a stay and play at the Frog House 10am-12pm and board games from 1-3pm.

MCR Social: (14-17) Supports disabled and neurodivergent young people to access all that Manchester has to offer with volunteer support every step of the way. Part of Manchester’s SEND Community Offer.

Museums and Galleries in The City: (All ages) Check out each site for visitor information, including accessibility, any relaxed opening times or inclusive activities: Manchester Art Gallery, National Football Museum, Museum of Science and Industry, People’s History Museum, HOME, Manchester Museum, Whitworth Art Gallery, Castlefield Gallery, Museum of Transport Greater Manchester, Manchester Jewish Museum

National Trust: (5+, under 5s go free) Offer Essential Companion cards for children and adults who need them. 

'Our Space' Youth Club: (7-16) Free club for 7 to 16 year olds with additional needs. Meets in Wythenshawe.

Relaxed cinema:(Various due to film ratings) Regular SEND-friendly cinema with Manchester Parent Carer Forum, at Cultplex in Manchester. Part of the SEND Community Offer.

RNIB Library: (All ages) Range of books in different formats for visually impaired. 

Sensory rooms: (All ages) Disabled Living have sensory rooms at Redbank House, north of the city centre (charged activity). There is also a low-priced sensory room at Benchill Community Centre in Wythenshawe and a free room at Benchill Children's Centre. 

Stay and Play: (2-5) BEING CHECKED Free sessions in Openshaw for pre-school children with SEND.

Travel Training: (14-25) (NOT CURRENTLY ON OFFER - CHANGES DUE SOON) Free programme for young people living in the Manchester City Council area to gain confidence and independence in travelling. Part of the SEND Community Offer.

Travel training resource: (Aimed at young people) A free resource from TfGM with guides and videos to help young people and their families design their own travel training.

Wellbeing group:(15-25) A free wellbeing group in Longsight/Ardwick for young people with SEND to help them learn, play and build new friendships.

Changing Places accessible toilets: (All ages) In leisure centres across Manchester and other sites. Find a toilet.

Champions Sports Club: (11+) Inclusive club on Friday evenings, 6 to 8pm, at Denmark Road Sports Centre, aimed at 11 plus, including adults.

Cyclists Fighting Cancer Manchester: (All ages) Helping children and young people affected by cancer by giving them new lightweight bikes and specially adapted trikes.

Disability cricket: (12-25) Super 1s is a Lord’s Taverners programme designed to give free cricketing opportunities to young disabled people.

Disability swimming club: (6+) Wythenshawe Forum on Saturdays, 9am to 10am, all year round, for disabled children..

Football with 'One City': (6+) Disability sessions connected to Manchester City. Also, Power chair session. 

Football with Manchester United Foundation: (Various) Various sessions on offer, including a powerchair session. 

Gyms for free - All Manchester resident secondary school children between the ages of 11 to 16 can access a free funded membership at council operated leisure centres.

Inclusive Cycling Experience: (16+) Loan an adapted bike for free and learn how to use it. For Greater Manchester residents.

Leisure in the city: (Various) Find out about leisure activities in the city on the MCRactive website.

Limitless inclusive cycling: (Various) Inclusive sessions at the National Cycling Centre.

MANCYCLES cycling for young people with SEND/SEMH: (11-16) Young people with Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) needs and/or SEND can take part in a weekly cycling project in Hulme. Part of the SEND Community Offer for young people living in the Manchester City Council area. 

‘One City’ Multi-Sport and Youth Club: (12-25) Free disability club on Tuesdays term-time 6-8pm, in Wythenshawe.

ParaNetball: (11-25) Free monthly ParaNetball club for girls and boys with SEND. 

Physical Activity Referral Service (PARS) - Junior: (5-17) A free 10-week programme for children and young people above a healthy weight, connecting them with inclusive sports and activities in their local neighbourhood. 

See you in the pool: Video co-produced with Manchester parent carers offering tips and advice on your SEND child's swim journey. 

Simply Cycling: (All ages) Adapted bike sessions starting on the hour for 45 minutes at Wythenshawe Park, Longford Park and Boggart Hole Clough. Charged activity.

Swimming: (All ages) Inclusive swims at Moss Side Leisure Centre and Abraham Moss Leisure Centre are free as part of the SEND Community Offer for families living in the Manchester City Council area. 

Swimming for under 17s: There is free swimming in Manchester during the school holidays and at selected times during term-time weekends - see the Manchester Active website or Wythenshawe Forum's own webpage.

Swimming lessons - SEND: North City Family and Fitness Centre have group SEND swimming lessons for children aged 4 and upwards. There are also lessons at Manchester Aquatics Centre. (Charged activity)

Tag rugby: SEND sessions for children and young people aged 10 and upwards at Bowdon Rugby Club. 

Wheels For All: Inclusive low-cost cycling with sites at Debdale Park, Gorton and Cleverley Athletics Track, Eccles/Salford. 

Young 'Uns multisport sessions: For 5-10 year olds with SEND on Sunday mornings 9am to 10.30am at Denmark Road Sports Centre, Ardwick.