At Walbottle Academy, our approach to education recognises that outcomes are paramount and also allows children to gain experiences and values which prepare them fully for life. We demonstrate a relentless daily commitment to our high expectations as we prepare our pupils for the challenges of a rapidly changing world. We are keen to share and for our community to understand our vision and how this underpins all that we do:

Masquer-Aid is a programme for young people aged 11-25 who have recently found out they are neurodivergent or are waiting for a diagnosis. They will take part in a 12-week programme where they learn about what it means to be neurodivergent and talk about shared experiences.

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.

The Children and Young People’s Service provides a single service to all children and young people aged 0-18 years living in Newcastle and Gateshead who present with mental health difficulties.

This includes children and young people who may be living in difficult and challenging circumstances.

Click here to read more and download a wealth of resources to help support you.

Our vital service is available at no cost to families. Rainbow Trust is a charity, relying almost entirely on voluntary donations and the generosity of the public to deliver support.

Rainbow Trust Children’s Charity supports families who have a child aged 0-18 years with a life-threatening or terminal illness.

We are a warm, caring and kind place because:

• We offer small group work and activities
• Parents/carers can discuss individual needs prior to visiting

We are a registered charity set up in 1990 in Newcastle upon Tyne, at a time when the North East had the worst levels of child health in the country (Government report Health of the Nation 1990).

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. 

Specialist session for young people diagnosed with autism or in the process of referral.

Every Thursday

6pm – 7pm

Ages 12-18

NUCASTLE, Diana Street, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE4 6BQ

For more information contact Michael.johansen@nufc.co.uk 

You can register by clicking 'Register here' under Neurodiverse kicks on this website: https://www.nufoundation.org.uk/get-involved/premier-league-kicks  

Our Tuesday Club is for young people with disabilities. They can stay active, make friends, and have fun. It helps them feel less alone and happier.

The club runs for two hours. There are sports and games for everyone. There is also a quiet area for relaxing.

A healthy tea is given at the club. This helps everyone stay healthy and feel good.

If interested email Hannah@smileforlife.org.uk 

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.

In the heart of Byker, this is one of the newest gyms in Newcastle, the 70+ station gym features the latest Technogym equipment. We have recently extended our Strength area and added a range of Hammer Strength machines. We have a large studio offering an extensive fitness class programme including Group Cycle, Power Pump, Yoga and much more. We also have a virtual studio where you can enjoy hundreds of classes on demand. There's two great swimming pools. A 25m pool for casual and lane swimming and a teaching pool which is home to the Better Swim School.

Inclusive art class held one Saturday every month for 10-15 year olds. 

If you would like to book, go to Saturday Art Classes for 10-15 year olds | What's On | Laing Art Gallery and click 'Book now' or email learning@laingartgallery.org.uk.

If you would like informal conversation with the tutor before attending, please get in touch via email. 

£7 per person

We believe the big screen experience should be accessible to everyone.  We aim to make a warm, inviting space for all to discover the joy of cinema. Our relaxed screenings are open to all, but are particularly mindful of neurodiverse audiences. 

All screenings will feature:

True Colours is an inclusive theatre school for children and young people living in the North East. They run classes designed to build confidence and celebrate diversity in a safe and nurturing environment. 

This link leads to a timetable of classes available: What’s On | True Colours Theatre

The class timetable on their website, linked above, details the sessions they run, from an introduction to performance classes to faster paced classes with lots of confidence building, dance and singing

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

The Gaming Social is a weekly gaming drop in for young people to socialise and mix in a relaxed environment. This is free so anyone can attend. Gamers can play a huge range of consoles with friends.

Gosforth Civic Theatre (See map below)

Every Tuesday during term time.

4.30pm - 6pm: under 11s session. (5 - 11 year olds)
​Anyone aged under 11 must be accompanied by an adult.

Our Contemporary Dance Class is open to young people with learning disabilities who enjoy dance. 

All you have to do is turn up! Led by a qualified contemporary dance practitioner. 

Beginners contemporary is perfect for those wishing to attend a fun class. This class will leave you feeling energised, inspired and worked out!

Join us for FREE monthly workshops! Designed for deaf children and young people aged 5 - 12 years. Delivered by Unfolding Theatre.

North East Deaf Youth Theatre explores all aspects of theatre-making including: 

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) 

• And more! 

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

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.  

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; 

All of our libraries are autism friendly. To do this we have:

• provided staff training

• created 'calm zone' areas with autism friendly furniture

• put up posters to promote that we are autism friendly

We have also introduced a quieter hour from 10am to 11am every Saturday on Level 3 of City Library. We avoid making any excess noise to make the library quieter and calmer to help customers with autism and other additional needs.