SEND Taster Month | June 2025
This June, Manchester Active is proud to present SEND Taster Month – a celebration of inclusive sport and activity across our city.
Whether you’re new to sport or looking to try something different, we’re opening the doors to a wide range of fun, friendly and fully inclusive taster sessions designed for individuals with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and their families. With something for everyone, it’s the perfect chance to discover new passions, meet others, and get active in a welcoming environment.
Try Something New
Throughout the month, you can explore sessions such as:
- Inclusive Swimming
- Mixed Ability Rugby
- Down Syndrome Rugby
- Inclusive Cycling
- Multi-Sports
- Cricket
- Disability Athletics
- Netball
- Inclusive Climbing & Bouldering
- Wheelyboat Accessibility – On-Water Experience
Each activity is hosted at accessible venues across Manchester and delivered by experienced coaches and inclusive sport providers.
Whether it’s climbing for the first time, joining a game of cricket, or enjoying time on the water with our Wheelyboat sessions – SEND Taster Month is about trying something new, having fun, and feeling included.
To learn more about each activity, including session times, venues, and how to take part, check out the tabs below.
Week 1
Tuesday 3 June
SWIMMING
- GLL (Swim for all)
- Age 4+ (with an adult)
- Time: 16:00 – 18:00
- Venue: Manchester Aquatics Centre, M13 9SS.
More information: https://www.better.org.uk/leisure-centre/manchester/manchester-aquatics-centre/swimming
Saturday 7 June
MIXED-ABILITY RUGBY
- Bowden RUFC. Mixed Ability Rugby.
- Age 12+. Learning Disability / Autism. Siblings welcome.
- Time: 10am – 11am
- Venue: Clay Lane, Timperley, Altrincham, WA15 7AF. (Outside)
- More information: It is non-contact, Mixed Ability, TAG rugby. Delivered in a controlled, quiet, environment.
- Contact name: Mike Carr
- Contact Number &/or e-mail: (optional) mixedabilityrugby@bowdonrufc.com
- Social media &/or website links: https://bowdonrufc.rfu.club/
- No sign up required, but please email Mike for further details and to chat about participants suitability.
Week 2
Monday 9 June
SWIMMING
- GLL (Inclusive Swim)
- All ages (under 8, require an adult)
- Time: 12:00 – 13:00
- Venue: Manchester Aquatics Centre, M13 9SS.
- More information: https://www.better.org.uk/leisure-centre/manchester/manchester-aquatics-centre/swimming
Wednesday 11 June
SWIMMING
- GLL (Disability Swim)
- All ages (under 8, require an adult)
- Time: 12:00 – 13:00
- Venue: Abraham Moss Leisure Cente, M8 5UF.
- More information: https://www.better.org.uk/leisure-centre/manchester/abraham-moss/swimming-abraham-moss-leisure-centre
Friday 13 June
SWIMMING
- GLL (Disability Swim)
- All ages (under 8, require an adult)
- Time: 12:00 – 13:00
- Venue: Arcadia Leisure Centre, M19 3PH.
- More information: https://www.better.org.uk/leisure-centre/manchester/arcadia-leisure-centre/pool-facilities-arcadia-leisure-centre
Sunday 15 June
DOWN SYNDROME RUGBY
- Sale Sharks Crusaders Fin Club
- Age: up to 30.
- Time: 11:30 – 13:30
- Venue: Sale Sharks Rugby Training Ground, Carrington Ln., Carrington, Manchester M31 4AB.
- Contact name: Lexie Wagstaff
- Contact Number &/or e-mail: (optional): 07525 857195; wagstaff@salesharks.com
- If possible, get in touch with Lexie prior to attending.
HEARING IMPAIRED RUGBY
- Sale Sharks; Inclusion Rugby
- Age: 5 – 18 years. Living with any degree of hearing impairment.
- Time: 13:30 – 14:30
- Venue: Sale Sharks Rugby Training Ground, Carrington Ln., Carrington, Manchester M31 4AB.
- Contact name: Harvey Robinson
- Contact Number &/or e-mail: (optional) harvey.robinson@salesharks.com, 07889601639
- Please contact Harvey via phone or e-mail prior to attending.
Week 3
Monday 16 June
CYCLING
- Simply Cycling
- All ages welcome. Open SEND session.
- Time 11am – 1pm
- Venue: Boggart Hole Clough, M9 7DH (Running Track)
- More information: simply-cycling.org
- Contact: Helen Hines | 07871621778
- FREE Access Code: “Manchester Active Taster”
Wednesday 18 June
CYCLING
- Simply Cycling
- All ages welcome. Open SEND session.
- Time 9am – 11am
- Venue: Wythenshawe Park, M23 0AB (Running Track)
- More information: simply-cycling.org
- Contact: Helen Hines | 07871621778
- FREE Access Code: “Manchester Active Taster”
Friday 20 June
CRICKET & MULTI-SPORT
- DOSportUK & Lancashire Cricket Foundation
- Ages 12 – 25 years. Learning Disabilities.
- Time: 6pm – 8pm
- Venue: Denmark Road Sports Centre, M15 6FG.
- Contact name: Amlyn Layton/Jacob Meaton
- Contact Number &/or e-mail: (optional) alayton@lancashirecricket.co.uk / jacob@dosportuk.co.uk
- Social media &/or website links: https://foundation.lancashirecricket.co.uk/super-1s/ / https://www.dosportuk.co.uk/
DISABILITY ATHLETICS
- GLL (Inclusive Athletics)
- Age: 8+
- Time: 18:00 – 19:00
- Venue: Manchester Regional Arena & National Squash Centre, M11 3FF (indoor)
- Contact: Karen Williams; williams@gll.org
- More information: https://www.better.org.uk/leisure-centre/manchester/regional-arena-national-squash/athletics-regional-arena-national-squash
SWIMMING
- GLL (Inclusive Swim)
- All ages (under 8, require an adult)
- Time: 12:00 – 13:00
- Venue: East Manchester Leisure Centre, M11 3ND.
- More information: https://www.better.org.uk/leisure-centre/manchester/east-manchester/east-manchester-swimming
Saturday 21 June
NETBALL
- Manchester Thunder ParaNetball Club.
- Age 11 – 25 years
- Time: 10am – 11am
- Venue: Wright Robinson College, M18 8RL (Outside)
- More info on our website:ParaNetball | Manchester Thunder | Nichols plc
- Booking Essential (FREE): Booking Link | Click Here
- Contact: Katie Palmer | katie@manchesterthunder.co.uk
- Social Handles: Instagram: @thunderparanetball; X: @ThunderParaNet
MIXED-ABILITY RUGBY
- Bowden RUFC. Mixed Ability Rugby.
- Age 12+. Learning Disability / Autism. Siblings welcome.
- Time: 10am – 11am
- Venue: Clay Lane, Timperley, Altrincham, WA15 7AF. (Outside)
- More information: It is non-contact, Mixed Ability, TAG rugby. Delivered in a controlled, quiet, environment.
- Contact name: Mike Carr
- Contact Number &/or e-mail: (optional) mixedabilityrugby@bowdonrufc.com
- Social media &/or website links: https://bowdonrufc.rfu.club/
- No sign up required, but please email Mike for further details and to chat about participants suitability.
WHEELEYBOAT ACCESSIBILITY
- GLL (on-water activity)
- Time: 10:00 – 16:00
- Venue: Debdale Outdoor Centre, M18 7LJ.
Sunday 22 June
MULTI-SPORT
- DOSportUK – Young’Uns.
- Time: 9am – 10:30am
- Age 5 – 10 years
- Venue: Denmark Road Sports Centre, M15 6FG
- Contact name: Jacob Meaton
- Contact Number &/or e-mail: jacob@dosportuk.co.uk
- Social media &/or website links: https://www.dosportuk.co.uk/
Week 4
Friday 27 June
CLIMBING & BOULDERING (TBC)
- Parthian Manchester
- Age 7 – 18 years
- Time: 17:00 – 18:30
- Venue: St benedict’s Church, M12 5ND.
- Contact: 0161 230 7006
Booking essential – Book onto the Climbing Taster Session here
For more information about Parthian Climbing click here
Sunday 29 June
DOWN SYNDROME RUGBY
- Sale Sharks Crusaders Fin Club
- Age: up to 30.
- Time: 11:30 – 13:30
- Venue: Sale Sharks Rugby Training Ground, Carrington Ln., Carrington, Manchester M31 4AB.
- Contact name: Lexie Wagstaff
- Contact Number &/or e-mail: (optional): 07525 857195; wagstaff@salesharks.com
- If possible, get in touch with Lexie prior to attending.
HEARING IMPAIRED RUGBY
- Sale Sharks; Inclusion Rugby
- Age: 5 – 18 years. Living with any degree of hearing impairment.
- Time: 13:30 – 14:30
- Venue: Sale Sharks Rugby Training Ground, Carrington Ln., Carrington, Manchester M31 4AB.
- Contact name: Harvey Robinson
- Contact Number &/or e-mail: (optional) harvey.robinson@salesharks.com, 07889601639
- Please contact Harvey via phone or e-mail prior to attending.
