What we do

We produce evidence-based short films and factsheets to help teachers, parents, carers and others working with children to help recognise any potential mental health issues in Primary School aged children.  These are freely available on our website Nip in the Bud.  
We believe passionately that early intervention reduces the risk of these issues becoming more serious in later years.

What is Makaton?

Makaton is a unique language programme that uses symbols, signs and speech to enable people to communicate.

It supports the development of essential communication skills such as:

• Attention and Listening
• Comprehension
• Memory
• Recall and Organisation of Language
• Expression.

It is designed to support spoken language and the signs and symbols are used with speech, in spoken word order.

Founded in 2005 through a partnership between The FA and UEFA Hat-Trick delivers around 70 sessions each week to people in Newcastle upon Tyne and now in Gateshead.

We support the young people to reach their full potential by providing opportunities to participate in positive activities that offer training, qualifications & leadership. We work across the city of Newcastle and borough of Gateshead in areas of high deprivation, the top 10 percent of most deprived neighbourhoods  across the country. 

Northern Stage is a theatre in Newcastle City Centre, very close to Haymarket. You can enjoy plays, dance, comedy and musicals on all of our three stages.

We have family shows throughout the year and at Christmas we have two magical shows one for under 5s and one for over 5s. 

Our Story

Daisy Chain provides a range of support services to autistic children and adults, either with a diagnosis or who are undergoing the diagnostic process, their parents/carers and their siblings.

Daisy Chain began life in 2003 as the dream of its founder, Lesley Hanson, whose son Jacob was diagnosed as autistic at an early age.

Youth Link Newcastle is for young people living with a disability or additional needs. It matches young people to a peer mentor.  They can help with working towards a goal and overcoming challenges. 

The service is available to young people living in a Newcastle Postcode, aged from 11 to 18.

Some examples of how a peer mentor could help you include:

Newcastle Trampoline Park and Gym is located in the west end of Newcastle, providing excellent sport and leisure facilities for the local community.   As well as a great gym which features a great range of Technogym equipment, we have a separate women only gym and the studios offer a great choice of fitness classes including Group Cycling. With new Technogym bikes recently added come along and give them a try. For children the centre boasts one of the newest Soft Play structures in Newcastle.

The Owl Tree Childrens Café CIC is a parent support group offering a safe, affordable and accessible space for parents and children up to the age of 7 years.  We offer a range of activities and classes in our building, including a sensory room.  At the heart of our building is our themed play café, offering weekly themed activities, songs, crafts and sensory play.

Themed and sensory play sessions
Funded spaces are available
for more information go to www.theowltreechildrenscafe.com
or call 07536 060607

Run by the NSPCC, Childline is a free, private and confidential service where children and young people under the age of 19.  This includes those with additional needs or disabilities.  You can talk to a counsellor about any issue they’re facing.

Online, on the phone, anytime.

HEY, I'M AISHA, the founder and dreamer behind Cup Of Parenting, on a mission to help mums navigate the challenges of parenting.

My story really began after the difficulties we all faced during the lockdown. 

With a new baby at home and eldest going through the challenging teen years, parenting was tough! This was when I decided to train in Positive Discipline parenting and The Incredible Years parent training. This made a huge impact on our family life, thus I decided to help other parents through coaching. 

The CAN project helps 16-25 year olds from Newcastle and Gateshead who may require support to transition into adulthood or make steps towards improving their confidence and reducing isolation. CAN aim to support young adults to overcome any barriers affecting them to move forward in their lives.

A mentor programme with a difference, it connects them with someone who can provide assistance tailored to their needs and ambitions. In the past, the programme has helped young people to:

The Hub offers places to disabled and autistic adults, including school/college leavers. Sessions are led by experienced support workers and professional artists.  

Explore drawing and painting, sculpture, textiles, media, printmaking, drama and movement. Activities are designed to develop personal creativity and improve art and craft skills. There is also focus on collaboration, communication and wellbeing.

This is a warm, caring and kind place to be because:

Vinspired.com provides inspiring high quality volunteering opportunities to gain new experiences and skills for life for 14 - 30 year olds.

The Vinspired.com platform offers you the chance to:

Looking for support to get into paid employment? 
Looking for real hands-on work experience and more career opportunities? 
Motivated to get work experience to find a paid job?

NHS England Choices College is a national specialist college. We provide employment support for young adults aged 16-24 with learning disabilities/difficulties and/or Autism. 

Our person-centred approach ensures support is tailored to meet each learner’s needs. Placements are found based on the learners' skills and interests.

Multi sports holiday club including Centre functional movements, dodge ball, football, tag games plus many more. 

Contact Rhys rhys@allstarsport.co.uk for further information

This is a warm, caring and kind place because:

Football club offering free multi sport activities over the holidays

Usually we run a football club which takes pride in offering football for all regardless of ability, gender, religion.  

The North East Autism Society run a Family Networking Group, a closed group on Facebook which aims to empower, educate and connect parents, families and carers by: 

• Increasing knowledge

• Sharing useful information 

• Connecting people   

You can find out more here: Family Networking - North East Autism Society

We are a North East based disability sport charity. We offer many sport sessions for people with special educational needs or disabilities, including:

• SEND Activity Sessions (8-19 years old)

• Adult Adapted Cycling Session

• Adult Sport and Social Session

• Boccia Session (all ages) 

• Summer holiday activities 

To find and book a session, click here: What’s On – Smile Through Sport

The Tree House Early Years Centre provides a range of Educational, Social, Therapeutic and Health activities / services for children aged 0-5 with SEND, and their families.

The centre was officially opened by councillor Lesley Storey in September 2023. The following video showcases the opening of the Centre and highlights some of facilities and activities available for children and their families.

EarlyBird is a course for parents who have a child under 5 with a diagnosis of autism. It is a 10-week course consisting of 8 face to face group sessions and 2 home visits.

The programme aims to support parents post diagnosis and establish good practice in supporting their child at an early age.

The British Society for Paediatric Dentistry has launched a set of infographics with the Top 3 tips for preventing tooth decay aimed at improving oral health which have now been translated into the five languages.  

The aim is that the infographics will be widely used by both dental and non-dental healthcare professionals to support conversations about good oral health behaviours and become a key tool for in-surgery preventive advice. BSPD’s Top 3 tips for preventing tooth decay is now available in the following languages:

1. Punjabi

The Twisting Ducks Theatre Company provides accessible opportunities for people with learning disabilities and autistic people to express themselves creatively, and to develop their skills, confidence, independence and social connections.

Our weekly Performing Arts and Music academies are for people with Learning disabilities and autistic people, aged 16 and over.

Whether you want to  DJ at our club night, act on stage, or perform in a live band, our Academies can help you to achieve your goals.

We provide specialised practical, emotional and social support for asylum seeking and refugee children, families and young people.

Our aim is to provide a specialised and trauma informed service that can be accessed by families or by individual young people.