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.

Cafe Beam at Ouseburn Farm provides a fabulous environment for young people with disabilities and learning difficulties to gain hands on work experience and learn new skills and develop confidence.

We are looking for regular volunteers to provide practical support for our youngsters usually for one morning or one afternoon on a weekly basis.  This role is extremely rewarding and varied and you will acquire a real insight into the operational side of our organisation as well as gaining valuable experience in working with people with special needs. 

We provide supported work placements to people who have learning difficulties, mental health problems, or both. We aim to empower people with the skills and experience that only real working environments can give:

• team working

• social interaction

• access to training opportunities

Our voluntary placements help to increase self confidence in the work place and beyond, improve self esteem and reduce social isolation.

MHM was established 30 years ago by families and carers in the North East to provide support and care for people they loved with mental health problems.

Today we have grown into a major national organisation supporting people with learning disabilities, drug and alcohol and other problems, as well as our core client group of people with mental health needs, across the UK through a range of evidence based and innovative services.

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. 

RISE is part of the Newcastle Gateshead CCG, NHS and DFE Mental Health in Schools programme. We work in schools and colleges and support young people with moderate mental health needs. This could mean working directly with individual students, running group sessions, or helping teachers shape lesson plans or assemblies.

At RISE, we offer low intensity support for children and young people coping with mild to moderate mental health needs. Our Education Mental Health Practitioners will tailor sessions based on young person needs but themes may include:

This service is available at our usual Monday and Thursday drop ins as well as a specific sexual health drop in on Fridays from 3pm to 6.30pm at our Young People's Service based on the West Road in Newcastle. Come and see us without having to book an appointment and in confidence.

Provides dental care for pre-school children, school children, those with special needs, learning disabilities, medical problems or severe anxiety and any other clients who are unable to find a dentist.  

Clinics are available at Arthur's Hill Clinic (check website), Kenton Health Centre, Molineux Street NHS Centre and Walker Centre. You can contact the service directly.

The community dental department provides a full range of dental treatment for patients who are residents of Newcastle and who fit one or more of the following criteria:

Healthier Families was previously known as Change4Life.

They are a service which encourages healthier eating and exercise for families.

The Complex Neurodevelopmental Disorders Service (CNDS) is a specialist second opinion Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) service for children and young people.  We provide diagnostic assessments where there is uncertainty around diagnosis.  In addition we also provide consultation and management advice to local services concerning children and young people who already have an existing ASD diagnosis.

We provide a range of specialist services for both adults and children with autism and or learning disabilities or both. We work closely with other Trusts, Local Authorities and voluntary sector organisations.

Lennox is a seven bed unit providing comprehensive assessment and treatment for young people aged 12-18 with complex mild to moderate learning disability and a requirement of a high level of supervision in a medium secure environment.

Referrals are accepted from specialist mental health teams regionally, nationally and internationally. Informal enquiries are welcomed and advice can be given by telephone prior to referrals.

The Community Eating Disorder Service (CEDS) provides community support and hospital inreach. This specialist eating disorder service supports young people and their families in the community to manage their condition and prevent hospital admission. They provide family based therapy in a range of settings as well as specialist clinical assessment and inreach to paediatric and acute mental health settings.

14 beds providing a behaviourally managed environment in which people with cognitive, emotional or behavioural outcome of an acquired brain injury can have access to rehabilitation.

How to get Referred:
Via Consultant

19 beds (with fully equipped interim flat) providing highly specialised and integrated multi disciplinary rehabilitation for adults following an acquired brain injury or other neurological disease/illness (patients must be medically stable).

How to get Referred
Via single point of access, Donna Lowther.

What we do

The Northern Region Gender Dysphoria Service is a service for people who experience persistent confusion and/or discomfort as a result of a discrepancy between their assigned sex and their gender identity. This includes people who want to change physical aspects of their gender as well as those who do not.

The Perinatal Community Mental Health Team provides a multidisciplinary service for women with mental health problems relating to pregnancy, childbirth and early motherhood living in Newcastle, Gateshead, North Tyneside, Northumberland, Sunderland and South Tyneside.

We care for women with a range of moderate to severe common mental health problems such as depression, anxiety, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), and severe mental health disorders such as bi-polar, psychosis and schizophrenia.

The Regional Affective Disorders Service (RADS) is one of a limited number of specialist/tertiary level affective disorder services in the UK providing both out-patient and in-patient care for patients with difficult to treat mood disorders.

The Regional Affective Disorders Service is based in Newcastle upon Tyne which provides care for patients living in the North East of England, over the age of 18, with complex and/or treatment refractory affective disorders and other treatment refractory conditions complicated by an affective component.

The Regional Affective Disorders Service (RADS) is one of a limited number of specialist/tertiary level affective disorder services in the UK providing both out-patient and in-patient care for patients with difficult to treat mood disorders.

The Regional Affective Disorders Service is based in Newcastle upon Tyne which provides care for patients living in the North East of England, over the age of 18, with complex and/or treatment refractory affective disorders and other treatment refractory conditions complicated by an affective component.

The Regional Communication Aid Service is based at Walkergate Park and is a specialist Electronic Assistive Technology Service.  Our service aims to improve the independence of people of all ages who experience severe communication difficulties through the provision of specialised services for Alternative and Augmentative Communication (AAC) Aids.  We support local teams in working with individuals to understand their AAC needs; and in providing specialised communication aids.

The Richardson Eating Disorder Intensive Day Service is a specialist service based at Benfield House, Walkergate Park Hospital in Newcastle, which provides comprehensive assessment and treatment for eating disorders. All patients referred into the day service need to have had a comprehensive assessment from The Richardson Eating Disorder Service or the Northern Centre for Eating Disorders.

Who is the Intensive Day Service for?

The service is for men and women aged 18 and over living in the northern and southern part of the North East of England.

The Richardson Eating Disorder Service (REDS) is a specialist tertiary service, located in Newcastle upon Tyne, providing comprehensive assessment and treatment for adults with moderate and severe eating disorders in North East England.  REDS provides treatment for males and females and has outpatient, intensive day hospital and inpatient services.

The Social, Therapeutic and Recreational Rehabilitation Team (STARRT), based at Walkergate Park  in Newcastle, provides social and recreational rehabilitation to inpatients in Walkergate Park.  STARRT work to promote independence and increase quality of life through taking part in social and leisure activities.  The team consists of a Nurse Team Lead and  qualified nursing staff, as well as activities facilitators and volunteers.

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.