Booking for the October 2026 cinema session will open at 6pm on Thursday, 8 October! For those who will be at the Local Offer Drop-in on the 14th, you can visit our table if you need help with navigating the booking process.

In the meantime, please vote for the film that we will be showing by answering this SurveyMonkey poll. (The survey closes at the end of Wednesday, 7th of October.)

We are delighted to announce that we have received continued funding for running the monthly relaxed cinema screenings this autumn term at Cultplex, an independent cinema venue in the Red Bank area just outside of Manchester City Centre!

As part of Manchester’s SEND Community Offer, these cinema sessions will be FREE to book for families of children and young people with Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities (SEND) living in a ward/area covered by Manchester City Council.

The relaxed screenings will be held on the following dates:

The survey for the October screening will open after next weekend’s screening: www.surveymonkey.com/r/relaxed-cinema-oct2026 (The poll will close end of day on the 7th of October.)

What makes it “SEND-Friendly”?

Manchester Parent Carer Forum (MPCF) is committed to making the event as welcoming and comfortable as possible. You can expect:

  • This event is exclusive to families and groups that are accompanying children and young people with additional needs and/or disabilities.
  • Peace of Mind – All MPCF staff and volunteers have lived experience of SEND so you can rest assured that there will be a level of empathy and understanding for additional needs that may arise on the day. Please speak to a member of the team if you have a request to make for a better experience.
  • A Quieter Experience – We can reduce the volume and/or request for some lights to be kept on, if needed, ensuring that your visit will not be too overwhelming.
  • Accessibility Considerations – Wheelchair and buggy users can enter the cinema via the ramp at the front entrance. We can switch on subtitles if needed. Please visit Cultplex’s website for more accessibility information.
  • In Your Own Time – No need to rush and bustle. Whether you are coming late or have to leave early, it’s okay with us. If your child struggles with staying seated at the cinema for the whole duration of the movie, you can move out of the cinema room to play a free arcade game or take a seat at Cultplex’s lovely lounge in the next room, then come back when the child is ready.

The new Manchester SEND Local Offer logo shows a well-designed lettering of 'LOCAL' in orange colour, with the L's sandwiching the word 'OFFER'.Acknowledgements:

Much thanks to the SEND Local Offer for making this possible.

We’d also like to thank Cultplex for providing us with a wonderful cinema package that families can enjoy.

Looking for other SEND-friendly activities?

This family event is part of Manchester’s SEND Community Offer.

To find out more about the SEND Community Offer and stay up-to-date with everything SEND in Manchester, please subscribe to the Local Offer newsletter and/or follow us on social media.