Free, safe, confidential support for young people

Children and young people in Newcastle and Gateshead can now get help from mental health counsellors using a free online service supported by the NHS.

Kooth.com is an award-winning online counselling and support service which is now available to all young people in Newcastle and Gateshead aged 11-18 years.

Public Health School Nurses provide a range of health improvement and health promotion activities including confidential health advice for children and young people, an immunisation programme and assistance to school staff in the delivery of PHSE (personal health and social education). 

Every school in Newcastle has access to a School Nurse.  School Nurses also provide information, advice and support on a range of health issues including:

The Newcastle Careers and Guidance Team offers impartial and confidential careers information, advice and support to young people up to the age of 19 without an Education Health and Care Plan (EHC plan) if they live in Newcastle or attend a Newcastle school.  (Please note, young people with an EHC plan are supported by their SEN caseworker)

ACANE exists to support the settlement of asylum seekers and refugees from the African continent, who have been dispersed to the North East region and Tyneside, in particular, and to actively promote their integration with the host community so that they can lead full and active lives, and participate in and contribute to the community on an equal basis.

Afterschool club

Afterschool club with free Access to IT, Internet, Table Football and art & Craft.

Nisai Virtual Academy believe that everyone has equal value and should have access to high quality education around the world. It is our mission to give traditional and non-traditional learners the skills to flourish through innovative online education and by influencing positive institutional change. We provide a friendly, supportive learning community and offer our students incredible opportunities. In essence, we support learners from Key Stages 3 to 5 and help create pathways to further education and employment through personalised learning.

Cruse Bereavement Care (CRUSE) is a national charity committed to promoting the well-being of bereaved people.  The organisation aims to help anyone bereaved by death to understand their grief and cope with their loss.  It covers England, Wales and Northern Ireland (Cruse - Scotland is a separate organisation). 

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.

For brothers and sisters of disabled children and adults

Sibs is a UK charity for siblings who may be finding it hard to cope with a brother or sister who is disabled, has special educational needs or a serious long term condition.

It is the only UK charity representing the needs of over half a million young siblings and over one and a half million adult siblings.

Sibs can give information and advice both over the phone and online. Sibs also runs YoungSibs, an online only support service for siblings in the UK aged 7 to 17. 

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.

About Arthritis Action

Founded in 1942, Arthritis Action is the only UK charity giving hands-on, practical help to combat the pain of arthritis through self-management and lifestyle advice. We offer people with arthritis a holistic self-management approach, looking at both the physical and mental aspects of arthritis.

Live Well Learn Well provides one-to-one and small group coaching to young people. Our coaching enables young people to overcome barriers to learning, and helps them to develop the confidence and motivation they need to succeed in school.

We work with young people who struggle with a range of issues, including low self-esteem, anxiety, poor body image, and exam stress.

We also coach adults who work in education, with a focus on stress management and preventing burnout.

Young Epilepsy is a national charity that supports the 112,000 children and young people under 25 with epilepsy in the UK.

There is a huge demand for information and support for parents and professionals and a need to improve access to, and quality of, health and education services.

We have a range of services including our helpline, health information resources, training courses for professionals in health, social care and education and the promotion of good practice in schools.

We care for children and young adults with progressive, life shortening conditions from across the North East.

Our team of skilled staff provide residential short breaks to local families. Up to six children and young adults can stay at any one time in our relaxed, home-from-home environment.

Children from birth to 18 can benefit from short breaks here. Teenagers benefit from their own living area – complete with games consoles, wide screen TV and PC’s.

We also care for young adults aged 18- 25 in designated, age-appropriate facilities.

A Specialist service for people who's lives are affected by someone else's alcohol or drug use. PROPS can offer one to one work, peer support groups, and training around substance misuse. They also offer carer and family training, respite breaks and an emergency out of hours telephone helpline. PROPS also work with young people 11+ who have been impacted by someone else’s drug or alcohol misuse.

If you know anyone who may be affected by drug or alcohol misuse, please contact us to make a referral or alternatively we would be happy to discuss this further with you.

Samaritans of Tyneside have been in Newcastle-upon-Tyne since 1965 serving the local communities of Newcastle, Gateshead and south-west Northumberland. Now based at 15 Portland Terrace, Jesmond, NE2 1QQ, we are near Jesmond Metro Station and on the B1600. Unfortunately, we are unable to see face to face callers at the Branch right now, but our volunteers are still going in every day to answer the telephone and reply to emails.

Mentoring service for young people prioritising asylum seekers & refugees aged 16-25 living in Newcastle & surrounding area. The project offers young people a one-to-one mentoring relationship matched with volunteer mentors, which is managed & supervised by staff. It is free and travel and basic refreshment costs are reimbursed.

If you are looking for information, advice and support on health issues such as:

• diet and nutrition
• physical activity
• emotional well-being
• puberty
• smoking and substance misuse
• sexual health

Why not drop in to one our virtual session, for a private one to one chat with a school health team member. 

Click here to get started  

We are a Mental Health and Emotional Wellbeing Service for Children and Young People.

We offer interventions that allow children and young people to explore difficult experiences through play and creativity. We also support your setting by delivering training, consultation and workshops.

We offer: Play Therapy, Creative Therapy, CPD and Twilight training both online and face to face.

The Humankind LGBT North East Services provide support to young people aged 11 to 25 through a range of projects across the North East region.

LGBT+ (Lesbian, Gay Bisexual or Transgender or other related identities) specialist support includes one to one interventions, workshops, peer support and family work. 

Humankind are also a delivery partner for the Rainbow Flag Award; a quality assured framework for schools to ensure that they are providing inclusive and positive environments for LGBT Students and their staff.

Streetwise provide a range of health and wellbeing support services for young people aged 11 - 25 year olds. 

Young people aged 13-25 can access the full range of contraception, sexual health, C-card (free condoms), Chlamydia testing, pregnancy testing. Workers offer support around wider issues such as relationships, drugs, alcohol and any other issues facing young people. We will signpost on to other services where appropriate.

We have a counselling and mental health service offering support around mental health and well-being for young people aged 11-25. 

PAPYRUS Prevention of Young Suicide provide confidential support and advice to young people struggling with thoughts of suicide, and anyone worried about a young person through the helpline, HOPELINE247.

We engage communities and volunteers in suicide prevention projects and deliver training programmes to individuals and groups. This includes equipping local councils, healthcare professionals and school staff with suicide prevention skills.

YoungMinds are the UK’s leading charity fighting for children and young people's mental health.

We want to see a world where no young person feels alone with their mental health, and all young people get the mental health support they need, when they need it, no matter what.

We are providing young people with reassurance and advice to help them make positive choices for their mental health and know what to do next if they are struggling.

The Mix is the UK’s leading support service for young people. We are here to help you take on any challenge you’re facing - from mental health to money, from homelessness to finding a job, from break-ups to drugs. Talk to us via our online community, on social, through our free, confidential helpline or our counselling service.