Swimming is an essential life skill for everyone. We believe that everyone should feel comfortable and confident in the water.

We offer a variety of swimming lessons tailored for both adults and children, including those with:

The Access Fund is a grant scheme. It can help children and young people with educational needs and/or disabilities take part in activities within their community alongside their non-disabled peers. It can help with the cost of taking part in local activities. This may include but is not limited to sporting, performing arts, or recreational activities.

Who is eligible to apply? 

The team will work with children/young people between the ages of 4-18 with a learning disability and or Autism Spectrum Disorder where their behaviour that challenges occurs as a result of the young person having limited abilities to communicate distress, and get their needs met in other more adaptive ways.

How to refer:

All referrals must come from a Community CYPS team; it is essential that a care co-ordinator is identified. Consultation clinics are held monthly in each locality where potential referrals can be taken to be discussed.

We are Nordoff Robbins Music Therapy Charity!

As the UK’s largest music therapy charity, we use music to enrich the lives of people with life-limiting illness, disabilities or feelings of isolation.

There are one-to-one music lessons delivered by music therapists. This is suited for people with autism or learning difficulties. Click here to learn more and to apply: Accessible music learning - Nordoff and Robbins.

This service is not provided by the NHS.

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.

Lennox is a seven bed unit providing comprehensive assessment and treatment for young people aged 12-18 with complex mild to moderate learning disability and a requirement of a high level of supervision in a medium secure environment.

Referrals are accepted from specialist mental health teams regionally, nationally and internationally. Informal enquiries are welcomed and advice can be given by telephone prior to referrals.

Skills for People helps disabled children and adults and their families to be in control and to have better lives. We also work with children with special educational needs.

We offer help with planning, meeting other disabled people and their families, advocacy, advocacy groups, social activities, self help meetings and individual development. We work with people who have an individual budget and those who do not.

Gosforth Civic Theatre is an arts venue, café and community hub in Gosforth, and is home to, and run by, Liberdade Community Development Trust.

We opened Gosforth Civic Theatre in 2016, and in 2019 we hosted more than 900 events and activities, and invited over 50,000 people through our doors. In the words of Ozzy, one of our founding members, we opened the theatre because; 

Cafe Beam at Ouseburn Farm provides a fabulous environment for young people with disabilities and learning difficulties to gain hands on work experience and learn new skills and develop confidence.

We are looking for regular volunteers to provide practical support for our youngsters usually for one morning or one afternoon on a weekly basis.  This role is extremely rewarding and varied and you will acquire a real insight into the operational side of our organisation as well as gaining valuable experience in working with people with special needs. 

We provide supported work placements to people who have learning difficulties, mental health problems, or both. We aim to empower people with the skills and experience that only real working environments can give:

• team working

• social interaction

• access to training opportunities

Our voluntary placements help to increase self confidence in the work place and beyond, improve self esteem and reduce social isolation.

We are one of the UK’s leading providers of mental health services who work both privately and with the NHS to help people and families experiencing mental and emotional difficulties to get better.

Get professional support from the UK's leading mental health, autism, and ADHD service.

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:

Café Beam @ Gosforth provides work placements for young people with learning difficulties and disabilities, helping them gain valuable work and life skills.

What is Café Beam?
Café Beam is a place where young people can learn to work in a café environment. They help prepare food, serve customers, handle money, and more. The café serves delicious, home-cooked food using fresh, local ingredients from Ouseburn Farm.

Benefits of Joining

Provides dental care for pre-school children, school children, those with special needs, learning disabilities, medical problems or severe anxiety and any other clients who are unable to find a dentist.  

Clinics are available at Arthur's Hill Clinic (check website), Kenton Health Centre, Molineux Street NHS Centre and Walker Centre. You can contact the service directly.

The community dental department provides a full range of dental treatment for patients who are residents of Newcastle and who fit one or more of the following criteria:

These workshops cover a wide range of topics. Come along if you would like to learn more about sex and relationships.

Each workshop is from 1:00pm until 3:00pm. To find out when our next workshop dates are, visit our Facebook page. 

Free Condoms and sexually transmitted infection (STI) test kits are available at all sessions!

Please email or call if you would like to attend.

We’re here to help adults and young people in Newcastle with all their sexual health and contraception needs. Our service offers advice, information, testing, and treatment for sexual health issues.

You can visit our clinic or attend your appointment online.

We keep everything you share confidential and won’t judge you. Our doors are open to everyone, no matter:

East End Pool has inclusive swimming sessions.  These are for people with sensory needs or disabilities. 

There is a Disability changing room/shower and also a pool hoist for easy access into the pool.  We also offer changing facilities for young people with continence issues.

To find dates and times for these sessions, you can use the Better UK app or check the timetable on the website Pool Timetable at East End Pool | Better.  

Cambian Dilston College is an independent specialist provider of further education in North East England, offering day and up to 52-week residential placements for young people with a learning disability, Autism Spectrum Disorder and complex needs.

GriffinOT helps children to achieve their full potential by equipping the adults around them with the tools they need to help.  This includes supporting educators, parents, and other professionals.

Arcadea are running fun and creative summer camps. These are for disabled and autistic young people aged 16 to 25

Radio Camp

Come and learn the art of radio!

• Wednesday 30th July 2025 - 10am to 3pm

• Wednesday 6th August 2025 - 10am to 3pm

Art Camp

Develop your art practice!

• Wednesday 13th August 2025 - 10am to 3pm

• Wednesday 20th August 2025 - 10am to 3pm

Fun sport and friendly boccia session for SEND/disabled children and adults. Our boccia session is suitable for beginners to experienced players. A great opportunity to learn the game, improve your skills as well as meeting new people and socialise.

Each session costs £3 

To book click here: What’s On – Smile Through Sport

For more information, please call or email.  

The Thursday Club is for people over 18 years old with disabilities. It helps people make friends. Each week, there is a fun activity to learn new skills and feel good.

The club is very popular so there is now a waiting list. If you want to join or find more about it, please email: hannah@smileforlife.org.uk.

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

Situated within the Alan Shearer Centre, our specialist home offers residential accommodation for adults with profound and multiple disabilities, offering longer term, safe and nurturing care and support. In addition, our disabled residents have full access to the on-site Activity Centre.

If you would like to see our facilities, meet the staff and discuss your individual needs, Sarah will be happy to arrange a visit. You can also speak to Sarah if you would like to enquire about a place or find out details on the referral process and the criteria for admission.

The Complex Neurodevelopmental Disorders Service (CNDS) is a specialist second opinion Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) service for children and young people.  We provide diagnostic assessments where there is uncertainty around diagnosis.  In addition we also provide consultation and management advice to local services concerning children and young people who already have an existing ASD diagnosis.