A fuel poor household is one which needs to spend more than 10% of its income on all fuel use and to heat its home to an adequate standard of warmth.

Three things that contribute to fuel poverty are: the cost of energy, the energy efficiency of your property and your household income.

At Byker Sands Family Hub we have packs containing items and information that will help you make positive changes in your home. These changes will make your home more energy efficient with the aim of reducing energy bills.

Calling all Young Healthwatch Newcastle Volunteers! 

Are you between the ages of 16 and 25? Do you live, work, or study in Newcastle? We’re currently recruiting Young Healthwatch Volunteers aged 16 to 25 to join our Youthwatch Project.  

 Here's what Youthwatch Project is all about: 

School Outreach (ages 9-14 years)

Coming to a school near you!
Our Regional Engagement Team offer specially designed activities to meet your school’s needs. Our focus is to inspire young people through fun-filled activities concentrating on teamwork and communication to build their confidence. Our 1-2 hour sessions include practical leadership & team building tasks for groups of up to 30 students.

Skills Academy

Enable young people with SEN the opportunity to access activities which support and encompass Recovery & Mental Health Awareness.

WHAT WE OFFER:

• 6 week programmes
• 2hr weekly sessions
• Regular reviews
• Focus on Recovery & Mental Health
• 16-25 year olds

Physical Wellbeing
Walks, small exercise sessions, sports activities

Self-Reflection
Emotional literacy, journaling, scrap booking

Welcome to North East Wellbeing (NEW) providing a range of professional services to children and the educational community within the North East of England.

We are an award-winning charity based in Newcastle. We work with local communities across the North East to improve their health, wellbeing and life outcomes.

Healthworks believes that everyone, regardless of the challenges they face- low income, unemployment or poor housing, should have the same opportunity to live in good health.  Our aim is to support people facing these issues, to maintain and improve their health, wellbeing and life outcomes.

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:

Tuesdays from 29^th July 10:00am-12:00

@ Byker Sands Family Centre

And runs for 6 weeks

For children aged primary school age and above to attend with their parent/carer.

A fantastic new course to support young people and their parents to give them coping strategies to deal with life's stresses.

The Royal National Institute of Blind People is the UK's sight loss charity. They offer practical and emotional support to blind and partially sighted people, their families and carers. They raise awareness of the experiences of blind and partially sighted people and campaign for change to make our society more accessible for all. They want to change our world so there are no barriers to people with sight loss.

St Vincent’s Centre, Newcastle is a community support project run by the St Vincent de Paul Society. It is a community hub which offers Vinnies drop-in each Tuesday, a free 3 course lunch for local guests, with wrap-around services including free haircuts, health checks, and welfare advice. Every Thursday there is a Cost-of-Living Market, and daily Vinnies Community Pantry offers a selection of groceries at reduced prices. St Vincent’s is also home to the Justice & peace Refugee project, supporting people seeking sanctuary in the city. 

CIC providing support to young people at risk of criminal exploitation (ages 14-25)

This is a warm, caring and kind place because:

The team can be reached via their Central Line: 07826 531575 (Mon - Fri 9am to 4pm)

If you are pregnant or breastfeeding and live in Newcastle, we can offer you information and support.

Start for Life combines the Antenatal and Breastfeeding Support projects. We are a team of practitioners and volunteers working alongside midwives and health visitors to offer additional support to families in Newcastle.

N.E.S.T

To improve the emotional, heath and wellbeing through use of creative activities to build self-confidence and self-esteem. Providing strategies that women can use to improve their own emotional wellbeing.

This is aimed at women who are isolated, struggling with their emotional health or wanting to build confidence and make friends.

Care to Learn, which was started 20 years ago as part of the Teenage Pregnancy Strategy, continues to provide funding for childcare to help young parents continue in education after the birth of a child. Young parents are defined as those aged under 20 at the date they start their study programme. It can help the young parent with any additional travel costs involved in taking the child to the childcare provider and also provides funding for childcare whilst young parents are on work placements or industry placements, where these are a defined part of the study programme.

Local charity Children North East are running the SAFE programme, which offers counselling to victims of sexual abuse aged 5 to 18 (

SVP Deaf Centre is a charity providing care, comfort and compassion for disadvantaged families and individuals within the community, both non-hearing and hearing alike. As the centre is part of the wider organisation of St Vincents de Paul, we embody SVP values while also having a unique focus on bettering the lives of those who have experience of deafness

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

At Changing Lives we believe that everyone deserves the opportunity to reach their potential. We are experts in working with people experiencing the most challenging of circumstances, providing holistic support to help people to go on to lead happy, fulfilling lives. We work across four – often interconnected – areas to address the most common causes of social exclusion and long-term deprivation:

• Housing and Homelessness,
• Recovery and Wellbeing,
• Women and Children,
• Employment and Training.

Are you an unpaid carer thinking about your next steps?

Whether your goals relate to finding a new role, remaining in work, education,volunteering or training then our Carers into Work project is here to help!

Our advisors provide flexible support to carers like you through tailored interventions such as:

The harm reduction service delivers a range of open access and confidential support for drug and alcohol users. You can access support such as needle and syringe exchange, nursing support, blood-borne virus testing, and access to naloxone.  You will also get lots of advice or information, and the staff will work with other services to support your needs.   

There are other needle exchange services in the city, including pharmacy exchanges, and the exchange at the Joseph Cowan Health Centre.  

Programme for Neurodivergent Young People aged 11-25

A peer support group for people who have recently found out they are neurodivergent, or are waiting for diagnosis. Referral only.

Referrals to Masquer-Aid should be made through the NHS Newcastle and Gateshead Children and Young People's Service (CYPS), who can be contacted by their website, telephone 0191 246 6913 or freephone 0800 652 2864.

The Mental Shift CIC works to provide support, education, and early intervention to young men to support with their mental health, reduce involvement anti-social behaviour, and improve quality of live. 

Through bespoke services which use Martial Arts as the driving force for change, we work with males aged 12 to 25 in Newcastle and beyond - including Gateshead, County Durham, Byker, and Elswick. 

Home Education Days have been designed for home educated children to benefit from our curriculum-linked workshops, which reflect current and relevant STEM themes and topics.  

Children experience working like scientists in a lab setting which they would not have access to at home. Families can also explore the science centre at leisure rather than having a ‘school style’ schedule to follow.

Each session has a different theme, so workshops will change each time you visit. Keep scrolling for details of upcoming sessions.