This event is a fantastic way to meet, chat, and indulge in some self-care with fellow parents & carers of children and young people with Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities (SEND) in a relaxed and friendly setting.

You will have an opportunity to:

• Get a relaxing reflexology or massage treatment (10am-11:30am only) – There will be six individual 15-minute foot reflexology or Indian head massage sessions that fellow parent-carer Karen will deliver. This will be held in a private room separate from the main area. Booking will be done on a first come, first served basis on the day.
• Do some wellness rock painting – Let’s paint some pebbles, a great way to relieve ourselves from anxiety and worries. Take your beautiful work home afterwards or donate them to us for a pebble-finding family activity in the summer.
• Get information about different services and support groups that may benefit your family.
• Browse our book library – Borrow a book to take home or read it there while having a nice brew on us.
• Answer our annual SEND Survey – Help us make things better for Manchester’s SEND families by feeding back on your experiences around Education, Health, Social Care, and other SEND services in Manchester. Get a chance to win a £30 voucher.

A light breakfast, snacks, and refreshments will be available throughout the morning. Lunch will be served at noon.

You can drop in at any point between 9:30am to 12:30pm, or book a ticket to reserve your place and tell us of any dietary requirements and information that you are searching for.

We are running this event in support and celebration of Carers Week 2023.

About the Therapies Available on the Day:

• Foot Reflexology
  
  With this treatment, you will lie or sit down, removing your shoes and socks. Karen, our wonderful therapist, will wash your feet with witch hazel water and then position them at her chest level. She will then work through the pattern of the reflexology therapy, starting with the toes and working down the foot. She will be applying pressure on the feet to stimulate the nervous system.Experiences with reflexology sessions vary from a general feeling of relaxation, to a sense of “lightness” or tingling in the body, as well as feelings of warmth, a sense of “opening,” or “energy moving” from the practitioner’s pressure to the specific body area or organ. There is often a physical perception of energy flowing through every organ, valve, gland, or muscle, as well as a sense of communication between each body system.

  We suggest NOT having this treatment if:

  • You currently have or recently had a foot injury.
  • You are or may be pregnant.
  • You have blood clotting issues.
  • You have open wounds.

  You can find out more at https://www.takingcharge.csh.umn.edu/explore-healing-practices/reflexology/are-there-times-when-i-shouldn-t-have-reflexology.

• Indian Head Massage 

  With this treatment, you will lie or sit down, with your head resting on a pillow.Karen will use a range of different movements, including use of deep kneading and compression movements over the neck, shoulder and scalp areas. In addition, she will also gently stimulate and stroke pressure points on the face.The aim of this massage is to release the stress that has built up in the tissues, muscles and joints of the head, face, neck and shoulders. It may help with relieving tension, fatigue, headaches, and circulation. Some people experience tiredness, dizziness, an increased desire to urinate (as the body gets rid of toxins and waste materials) or aching muscles following treatment. All of these side effects usually last for no more than a few hours, after which people generally experience increased energy and alertness.

  We suggest NOT having this treatment if:

  • You recently had a surgery.
  • You currently have or recently had a head or neck injury.
  • You have a history of thrombosis or embolism.
  • You have spondylitis or spondylosis.
  • You have high or low blood pressure.
  • You are diabetic.
  • You have any kind of heart condition.
  • You are battling cancer.
  • You have osteoporosis.

  You can find out more at https://www.holisticalm.co.uk/treatments/useful-information/contraindications-to-treatment/ or read this leaflet from St. Helens and Knowsley Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust for more information.

About the Therapist:

Karen trained and qualified as a Holistic Therapist in 2004, in which i also gained specific qualifications in:

• Indian Head Massage
• Reiki
• Anatomy and Physiology

She has always had a passion for supporting people, which led her to a career of working in Children’s Services, supporting children and their families.

Being a fellow parent-carer of a child with Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities (SEND), she knows first-hand about the stresses and challenges that our families face. She hopes that these sessions will help give the attendees a much needed boost, especially this Carers Week!

Source: www.carersweek.org

About Carers Week

Carers Week is an annual campaign to raise awareness of caring, highlight the challenges unpaid carers face, and recognise the contribution they make to families and communities throughout the UK. It also helps people who don’t think of themselves as having caring responsibilities to identify as carers and access much-needed support.

It is celebrated on 5-11 June this year and the theme is “Recognising and supporting carers in the community.”

Click here to find other Carers Week events happening in or near Manchester.