The Lawnmowers is a theatre-arts company in Gateshead run by and for people with learning difficulties. Founded in 1986, it became an independent company in 2000 to promote community cohesion. The Lawnmowers has produced 14 full shows, hundreds of performances, workshops, films, TV appearances, and accessible information.

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. 

Our Story

Daisy Chain provides a range of support services to autistic children and adults, either with a diagnosis or who are undergoing the diagnostic process, their parents/carers and their siblings.

Daisy Chain began life in 2003 as the dream of its founder, Lesley Hanson, whose son Jacob was diagnosed as autistic at an early age.

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?

Be kind to your mind

There are small things we can all do to help be kind to your mind, and these can make a big difference to how we feel.

Get expert advice and practical tips to help you look after your mental wellbeing and make them part of your daily routine.

Newcastle Vision Support, formerly Newcastle Society for Blind People, was first established in 1867 and has been supporting visually impaired and blind people in Newcastle for 150 years.

This May Help, is a new national initiative providing mental health advice to parents and carers. This May Help is aimed at parents and carers who may have concerns about their child’s mental health and is part funded by the Quality Improvement Taskforce for Children and Young People’s Mental Health, Learning Disability and Autism Inpatient Services.

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.

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.

The National Deaf Children’s Society is the UK’s leading childhood deafness charity.

We’re here for every deaf child who needs us, no matter what their level or type of deafness or how they communicate.

We provide free, independent support and information to parents, carers, deaf young people, extended family members and professionals.

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

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:

The Hub offers places to disabled and autistic adults, including school/college leavers. Sessions are led by experienced support workers and professional artists.  

Explore drawing and painting, sculpture, textiles, media, printmaking, drama and movement. Activities are designed to develop personal creativity and improve art and craft skills. There is also focus on collaboration, communication and wellbeing.

This is a warm, caring and kind place to be because:

Information booklets for carers who play a critical role in this journey through the care and support they offer to loved ones who also might need support at times.

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.

Trinity Post-16 Solutions Ltd offers bespoke packages to young people aged 16-25 who have additional support needs.

Learners who have learning difficulties and/or disabilities (LLDD) are provided with a study programme that equips them with the skills needed for adulthood.

EHCP outcomes are at the heart of the programme to equip learners to: Live as independently as possible; prepare for employment and the world of work; become involved in social and community activity; live a healthy lifestyle.

We have several elements to our bespoke programmes, including:

Looking for support to get into paid employment? 
Looking for real hands-on work experience and more career opportunities? 
Motivated to get work experience to find a paid job?

NHS England Choices College is a national specialist college. We provide employment support for young adults aged 16-24 with learning disabilities/difficulties and/or Autism. 

Our person-centred approach ensures support is tailored to meet each learner’s needs. Placements are found based on the learners' skills and interests.

Shout is the UK's first and only free, confidential, 24/7 text messaging support service for anyone who is struggling to cope.

We launched publicly in May 2019 and we’ve had more than 1.7 million conversations with people who are anxious, stressed, depressed, suicidal or overwhelmed and who need in-the-moment support.

As a digital service, Shout has become increasingly critical since Covid-19, being one of the few mental health support services able to operate as normal at this time.

Newcastle Parent Carer Forum (PCF) are a group of volunteer parents and carers who work in partnership with Newcastle Local Authority, Health, Education and Social Care providers to make sure that the services they deliver meet the needs of children, young people and their families.

We aim to act as “the voice” of Newcastle’s parents and carers of children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).

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:

Referral of Young Person (0-18 years old) Self-referral, referral by a parent, carer, G.P., school or relevant professional.

Single Point of Access (SPA)

The Single Point of Access (SPA) is for young people with a GP in in Newcastle and Gateshead requiring a mental health assessment or intervention. 

Referrals will be reviewed and triaged so young people are referred to the right service at the right time for onward assessment and treatment or advice and guidance.

Serving hot breakfasts, lunchtime favourites and top-quality coffee. Cafe Hope Cowgate is a place for families and people from the local community to enjoy affordable meals in a friendly space. Based at our Cowgate Centre site, its profits help keep our life-changing services accessible to babies, children, young people and their families.