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Support for individuals who may have sustained scarring/disfigurement post injury

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Support for individuals who may have sustained scarring/disfigurement post injury

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Changing Faces | Visible Difference & Disfigurement Charity

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We are here to help everyone in the UK who has a visible difference, a scar, mark or condition on their face or body that makes them look different.

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Greater Manchester Leisure Activities 2026

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Greater Manchester Leisure Activities 2026

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Use this map to find your local leisure centres/activity groups

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What is an EHCP - education & health care plan

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What is an EHCP - education & health care plan

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A quick guide for parents and carers to the Education Health Care Plan (EHCP) process

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Helpful advice around returning to PE/sports

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Helpful advice around returning to PE/sports

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Online resources for patients who already have a diagnosis from a qualified health practitioner to help get them safely back to sport.

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A serious injury is a major shock We can help you or your loved ones cope with the emotional effects of trauma

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You can seek citizens advice/legal support through MTSP. Their contact number is 0330 043 7879 or their email is mtsp@mft.nhs.uk

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Choosing the right personal injury lawyer

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Choosing the right personal injury lawyer

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You can seek citizens advice/legal support through MTSP. Their contact number is 0330 043 7879 or their email is mtsp@mft.nhs.uk

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A serious injury is a major shock We can help you or your loved ones cope with the emotional effects of trauma

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Major Trauma Support Partnership

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Why is school reintegration so important?

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Why is school reintegration so important?

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Impacts of children missing days in school are far reaching! Being discharged from hospital and returning to school following a Major trauma injury is often a big milestone in someones rehabilitation journey!

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Coming to terms with a traumatic or frightening event

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Coming to terms with a traumatic or frightening event

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Going Back to School - information for patient & family

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Going Back to School - information for patient & family

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As soon as your doctor says you can, swimming is excellent for a whole body workout and fun for the whole family too!

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How to use a walking frame

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How to use crutches

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Once the child/young persons consultant or specialist team has agreed they an return to sports, here are some ideas to grade their return

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1. You live in Greater Manchester (areas shown on map)

2. You are between 5 and 18 years old.

3. You were supported by the Major Team whilst you were in hospital.

If you don't fit these criteria hopefully your or the grown up in your life finds some of the information on this page useful.

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Need to hire a wheelchair? The British Red Cross provides wheelchair hire services in Wales, Northern Ireland, and England**.

We offer comfortable, safe, and reliable manual wheelchairs whether you're looking for self-propelled, transit, or bariatric (wider seating, higher weight capacity) wheelchairs.
Find out more information about the types of wheelchairs we offer and how to use them.
The wheelchairs are suitable for anyone over the age of 5 and are available in a wide range of sizes, with fitted footrests as standard and free accessories such as leg elevators, cushions, and stump supports available to improve your comfort*.
*subject to availability **provisions in Scotland

We offer:

Wheelchair hire for £22 a week; includes free wheelchair accessories

Delivery and collection of your wheelchair for an additional £25.00 charge in most areas; it will come fully assembled for your convenience

Flexible hire periods (minimum hire period 1 week) at locations UK wide

12-week mandatory servicing and steam-cleaning to guarantee safe operation, fully crash tested

Replacement provided during servicing

Professional servicing and cleanliness standards in line with NHS Control of Infection policies, guaranteeing removal of all viruses (including C-Difficile, E-Coli, and Covid-19)

Book a wheelchair

Making your booking

To hire a wheelchair near you, you will need to know:

Measurements of the wheelchair user at their widest point (usually hips and thighs) and add 1" / 2.5cm for comfort

Weight of the wheelchair user

Accessories needed

Book a wheelchair

Manage your booking

Login below to retrieve your booking.

Returning your wheelchair

When your rental period has come to an end, please:

Contact your nearest Mobility Aids service to arrange a return

Make sure all items are returned, including any cushions, leg elevators, footplates, and seatbelts

Be aware any missing or damaged items may incur a fee

Contact us form

Find your nearest wheelchair service

Not all locations are available to book online. Find the location, opening times, and contact details of all our local mobility aids services in Wales, Northern Ireland, and England, below.

Wheelchairs are available for collection at sites across the three countries, including select Tesco carparks.

Find your nearest service
In Scotland wheelchair provision is provided as a statutory service through Health and Social Care Partnerships.

About our wheelchair service

The British Red Cross is the largest national provider of short-term wheelchairs in the UK, supplying over 58,000 wheelchairs every year. We're committed to ensuring that everyone who needs a temporary wheelchair has access to one and have been providing this service for over 107 years.

Wheelchair hires allow us to support those most in need and provide wheelchairs to them at no cost. We are non-profit making, and every penny of surplus income supports people who need our help.

We are a volunteer led organisation - by hiring your wheelchair from us you will help provide experience and opportunities for people, preventing them from feeling lonely and isolated.

Choosing the right wheelchair

The wheelchair you choose must be right for your needs. Find out more about the different types of wheelchairs we offer, learn how to use them, and how to fit wheelchair accessories with our guides.
> Learn to use a wheelchair

Need further assistance?

We offer assistance and support to those who may not be able to meet the financial costs.

If you need assistance, have a question about your booking, need your wheelchair for longer, or if your equipment becomes damaged, please call us on 0300 456 1914.

Our partnerships

In Wales, parts of East Anglia, Northern Ireland, Hampshire, and Avon & Wiltshire, health commissioners fund our service, and local residents can borrow mobility aids equipment for short-term use at no cost.

We work in partnership with the NHS by providing wheelchairs to help people leave the hospital and recover in the comfort of their own homes. In these instances, we rely on our users to make a donation towards the cost of the service.

Terms and conditions (PDF).

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Hire or rent a wheelchair | British Red Cross

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The largest national provider of short-term wheelchairs in the UK, hire or rent a range of wheelchairs near you including bariatric, transit & self-propelled

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Major Trauma School Reintegtaion Co-Ordinator

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Nurse Practitioner

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Highly Specialised Physiotherapist

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Highly Specialised Occupational Therapist

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Some increased pain following return to school is normal due to the increased distances walked. If you are unsure, speak to one of our team.

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All ability cycling/fun for all!

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Wheels for All - The UK inclusive cycling charity

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Find your local Wheels for All or Pedal Away inclusive disabled cycling centre. Cycle activities for all with adapted bikes available. Supported by Wheels for All charity.

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Sporting opportunities

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About Greater Manchester Moving

Greater Manchester Moving is GM's movement for movement working together to positively change the lives of people across Greater Manchester through physical activity and sport. As people, communities and organisations, from every sector and place across the city region, pulling in the same direction, united by a shared passion and commitment for what we do, why we do it and how we do it.

Our shared mission is to enable active lives for all.
Find out more about GM Moving here

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Greater Manchester Moving is GM's movement for movement working together to positively change the lives of people across Greater Manchester through physical activity and sport. As people, communities and organisations, from every sector and place across the city region, pulling in the same direction, united by a shared passion and commitment for what we do, why we do it and how we do it.

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Sporting opportunities

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The Access Sport Flyerz Project has been working with community clubs to create inclusive hockey sessions since 2012. There are now Flyerz Clubs across the UK, from the South Coast to Scotland, welcoming young people of all abilities. During the current restrictions the pitches have had to close, but the sessions have not - TW Flyerz Club launched the first virtual session with long-time supporters and Olympic Champions Kate and Helen Richardson Walsh and guest player Jim White from the Telegraph. THE TELEGRAPH TUNES INTO FLYERZ VIRTUAL HOCKEY

Read the Telegraph article by Jim White Or to learn more about Flyerz Hockey visit the webpage

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Access Sport is a charity working to directly combat shocking levels of exclusion, hardship and poor health faced by millions of children in the UK. We do this by building thriving community sports clubs, in the most disadvantaged areas, which provide life-changing opportunities for local, vulnerable young people

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When a child acquires a brain injury it can have a devastating affect on all the family. Every year thousands of families are left without any support and often feel alone with nowhere to turn to.

We are here to support families and professionals working with children and young people who find themselves in need of information about what's happened and how to cope. We are here to listen and to help with practical and emotional issues which may arise over time.

We work in Hospitals, Schools and in the community and are able to offer face to face meetings, phone and email support.

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When a child acquires a brain injury it can have a devastating affect on all the family. Every year thousands of families are left without any support and often feel alone with nowhere to turn to. We are here to support families and professionals working with children and young people who find themselves in need of information about what's happened and how to cope.

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You can seek citizens advice/legal support through MTSP. Their contact number is 0330 043 7879 or their email is mtsp@mft.nhs.uk

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Major Trauma Signposting Partnership | MTSP

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Home | Major Trauma Signposting Partnership | Trauma Care

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MTSP support NHS Major Trauma Centres with trauma care through free bedside support, trauma rehabilitation and injury claim advice for major trauma patients.

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It's important to eat a balanced diet to aid recovery - foods such as lean meats, fish, eggs, leafy greens, citrus fruits and dairy should be encouraged.

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If your child is a healthy weight, there's lots you can do as a parent to help them stay a healthy size as they grow.
Research shows children who stay a healthy weight tend to be fitter, healthier, better able to learn, and more self-confident.

They're also much less likely to have health problems now and in later life.

Children whose parents encourage them to be active and eat healthily are more likely to stay a healthy weight and grow up healthy.

Check their BMI every now and then using our BMI healthy weight calculator to see how they are growing over time.

Be a good role model

One way to instil good habits in your child is for you to be a good role model. Children learn by example. You can encourage your child to be active and eat healthily by doing so yourself.

Set a good example by going for a walk or bike ride instead of watching TV or surfing the internet.

Playing in the park or swimming with your children shows them being active is fun. It's also a great opportunity for you all to spend time together.

Any changes you make to your child's diet and lifestyle are much more likely to be accepted if the changes are small and involve the whole family.
Find easy ways to eat well and move more as a family on the Better Health website
If you're not sure what activities you'd like to try as a family, head to the exercise section on the NHS website.

Get active

School-aged children need about 60 minutes of physical activity a day for good health.

Activity does not need to be all at once, it can be spread throughout the day. It could include riding a bike, skateboarding, walking to school, skipping, swimming, dancing and martial arts.

Children under 5 years old need more than 3 hours' activity a day. It can take the form of active play, such as ball games, chasing games like "it" and "tag", riding a bike or scooter, using playground swings, climbing frames and see-saws.

Activities should make children breathe faster and feel warmer.

Walking or cycling short distances instead of using the car or bus is a great way to be active together as a family. And you'll save money, too.
Find out about physical activity guidelines for children under 5 years Find out about physical activity guidelines for children and young people aged 5 to 18

Child-size portions

There's very little official guidance on precisely how much food children require, so you'll need to use your own judgement on child-size portions.

A good rule of thumb is to start meals with small servings and let your child ask for more if they're still hungry.

Avoid making your child finish everything on the plate or eat more than they want to.

Use smaller plates for younger children, as adult-size plates could encourage them to eat oversized portions.

It may also help if you encourage your child to eat slowly and have set mealtimes. You can use mealtimes as an opportunity to catch up on what's happened during the day.

Explain to your child how to get the balance of their diet right using the Eatwell Guide. It shows how much we should all eat from each food group.

Read more about how to eat a balanced diet.

Get ideas for healthier lunchbox recipes and healthier food swaps on the Better Health website.

Eat a healthy balanced diet

Children, just like adults, should aim to eat 5 or more portions of a variety of fruit and vegetables every day. They're a great source of fibre and vitamins and minerals.

Getting 5 A Day should not be too difficult. Almost all fruit and vegetables count towards your child's 5 A Day, including fresh, tinned, frozen and dried.

Juices, smoothies, beans and pulses also count.

Be aware that unsweetened 100% fruit juice, vegetable juice and smoothies only count as a maximum of 1 portion of their 5 A Day. For example, if they have 2 glasses of fruit juice and a smoothie in 1 day, that still only counts as 1 portion.

Their combined total of drinks from fruit juice, vegetable juice and smoothies should not be more than 150ml a day, which is a small glass.

If they have 150ml of orange juice and a 150ml smoothie in 1 day, for example, they'll have exceeded the recommendation by 150ml.

When fruit is blended or juiced, it releases the sugars. This increases the risk of tooth decay, so it's best to drink fruit juice or smoothies at mealtimes.

Discourage your child from having sugary or high-fat foods like sweets, cakes, biscuits, crisps, chocolate, some sugary cereals, and sugar-sweetened soft and fizzy drinks. These foods and drinks tend to be high in calories.

Aim for your child to get most of their calories from foods like fruit and vegetables, and starchy foods like bread, potatoes, pasta and rice (preferably wholegrain versions).

They should also have some beans, pulses, fish, eggs, meat and other protein foods, and some dairy or dairy alternatives.

And swap sugary soft drinks, juice and flavoured milks for water, lower-fat milks and diet, sugar-free or no added sugar drinks.
Find out more about healthier food swaps on the Better Health website

Less screen time and more sleep

Help your children avoid sitting and lying around too much, as it makes it more likely for them to put on weight.

Limit the amount of time your child spends on inactive pastimes such as watching television, playing video games and playing on electronic devices.

There's no hard and fast advice on how much is too much, but experts say children should have no more than 2 hours of screen time each day.

And remove all screens (including mobile phones) from their bedroom at night.

It also helps children stay trim if they sleep well. It's been shown children who don't have the recommended amount of sleep are more likely to be overweight.

The less children sleep, the greater the risk of them becoming overweight. Lack of sleep can also affect their mood and behaviour.

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Advice for parents of healthy-weight children

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Practical advice for parents of healthy-weight children, including tips on healthy eating and physical activity.