Family Fund supports families living across the UK who are who are raising a disabled or seriously ill child or young person up to the age of 17. Our support is focused on those on low incomes with a child/children who have a high level of additional support needs.

At Family Fund, we believe that all families raising disabled or seriously ill children and young people should have the same choices, quality of life, opportunities and aspirations as other families.

Nystagmus Network is a charity that helps people with nystagmus, a condition where the eyes move uncontrollably. They offer many services to support families and children with nystagmus.

Support Services

Today, 10 children and young people in the UK will hear the shocking news that they have cancer.

Treatment normally starts immediately, is often given many miles from home and can last for up to three years. Being diagnosed with cancer is a frightening experience and the emotional, practical and financial implications of treatment are intensely challenging for the whole family.

We aim to raise awareness and make sure D/deaf, Deafblind and Hard of Hearing people have access to information and services in the same way as hearing people.  We provide information and signposting for deaf-related services. 

Deaflink has developed as an organisation with the principles of inclusion and empowerment, trying to bring people and agencies in partnership to understand better the needs and issues of D/deaf, Deafblind and Hard of Hearing people.

Charity number 1147237

Retina UK is the national charity for families living with inherited retinal dystrophies. We fund research and provide information and support to those affected by inherited sight loss and the professionals who support them.

We support anyone with the following visual impairments: Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP), Rod Cone dystrophy, Cone Rod dystrophy, Choroideremia, Leber congenital amaurosis (LCA), Bardet-Biedl syndrome (BBS), Usher syndrome, Stargardt disease.

The Toby Henderson Trust (TTHT) is an independently funded charity supporting autistic children, their families and carers.  After 15 years at Whitehouse Farm the trust has recently moved to Toby House, Earth Balance, Bedlington, Northumberland.

We are the one and only charity in the North East focused on life changing early intervention with autistic children (aged 2 to 7). Our service users tell us early intervention can transform the life of a child…

The Autism Education Trust (AET) was set up in part by the National Autistic Society. Recognised by the Department of Education, it provides high quality training to schools and educational settings.

From September 2020 Newcastle City Council is an Autism Education Trust (AET) Training Hub.

A quiet room for you and your child to relax with various sensory items. The room includes

• Colour changing LED bubble tower

• CD player with a range of CD's of children's songs

• Light up bouncy balls

• Music instruments

• Fidget toys

• And more!

To book your 1 hour session please phone or email.

Please note that the room is only small. Only two households are allowed on one booking.

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

MOVErs & Explorers is a free pre-school support group at Percy Hedley School providing a range of fun, nurturing, sensory based programmes. It is for families with young children who have neurological or motor disorders (such as cerebral palsy).  They may also have associated speech, language and communication difficulties.  Children are welcome to attend from the age of 3 months to preschool.

Sessions aim to work with parents develop their child’s physical, cognitive, social and communication skills via explorative play.