AFK helps disabled children and young people to live independent and fulfilling lives.

Supporting your Independence

We provide a range of information, advice and support services relating to all aspects of disability. Our quality advice and support is free*, confidential and impartial. We also work to support carers and those working within the health and social care system.

Click here to find out more: Independent Living – Disability North

*There is a charge for some of our Direct Payment/payroll Support Services

Rehab Jigsaw provides independent occupational therapy services throughout the UK. We have an experienced, professional team delivering bespoke yet cost effective solutions. We work with clients experiencing the effects of illness or injury upon their ability to complete day to day activities at home, work or in education. Rehab Jigsaw was established by Occupational Therapists and is managed by Occupational Therapists.

This service is provided externally to the NHS.

Disabled Children’s Register

By law we are required to keep a Disabled Children’s Register. We use it to help us improve services now and in the future.

By being on the register you will be kept informed of what services are available and how you can get involved if you want to.  Joining the register is voluntary but if you register your child we will:

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. 

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:

Specialist Rehabilitation Services

The Children’s Trust is the UK’s leading charity for children with brain injury and neurodisability. We deliver rehabilitation, education and community services through skilled teams who work with children and young people, and their families.

Designability is a national charity that enables disabled people to live with greater independence.

Introducing Wizzybug!

Wizzybug is a fun, innovative powered wheelchair provided FREE of charge to young children in the UK by Designability, a charity based in Bath.

Who is Wizzybug designed for?

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.

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:

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:

Disability North is a registered charity (no. 514733) promoting inclusion, independence and choice for disabled people and their families by providing information, advice and support on any aspect of disability. Services are also provided for students or professionals working in the statutory, voluntary and the public sector.

Newcastle City Loan Equipment Service (NCLES) provides equipment to support adults and children with their daily living and nursing needs in their own homes.

We are the main provider of this service in Newcastle

What does the service do?

We install, maintain, repair, decontaminate and recycle a wide range of equipment. 

We also provide a technical advice service and carry out risk-assessments with medical and care professionals, both in-store and in people’s homes.

The type of equipment we supply includes:

Comets is a pan-disability football programme for disabled boys and girls aged between 5 and 11. Players with a broad range of impairments and health conditions can play together.

Comets is all about playfulness, friendships and having fun. More than anything, Comets is football that breaks the old rules and replaces them with a brand new one: JUST BE YOU.

The sessions are ran by lots of brilliant and enthusiastic coaches, the kids love it every week.

If interested in attending, please contact Mandy on 07583052726.

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.

Shine provides specialist advice and support for spina bifida and hydrocephalus across England, Wales and Northern Ireland. 

The Streetwise Project Workers offer young people who attend the Hub a chance to have their say.  

Each week, they will ask those who attend to choose what they would like to eat. The young people then shop for healthy ingredients.  After that they prepare the food to cook for themselves and their peers. 

There are also engaging and fun activities including board games and a Playstation 5.

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.