Molehill Mountain is an app to help autistic people understand and self-manage anxiety.

You can use Molehill Mountain to explore the causes and symptoms of anxiety.

• Track your worries and the situations that trigger anxiety.

• Get evidence-based daily tips to understand more about anxiety.

• Feel more confident to self-manage anxiety.

It was developed by Autistica and King's College London.  Adults with autism were consulted throughout the development of the app.

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:

Tyneside Women’s Health was established in 1985 with the key aim of helping women to improve their mental health and emotional wellbeing.  

Tyneside Women’s Health offers a range of interventions for women including drop in sessions, support groups, mental health courses, counselling, and various therapeutic activities such as relaxation.  We have also introduced a range of online and virtual support services. Please visit our website for more information.

Our main Centre is based in central Gateshead, and we have a second Centre in Byker, Newcastle.

Are you looking after someone who needs help and support?

If you are caring for someone who cannot manage without your support and you're not employed to do this, then you are a carer. Anyone can become a carer at any point in their life. We're here to listen and support you.

Newcastle Carers is an independent charity supporting adults, children, and young people who look after someone living in Newcastle upon Tyne. Our services are free, confidential and non-judgemental, helping carers find ways to make their caring situation easier to manage.

Family Advice and Support Team at Skills for People

Services Offered:

Skills for People helps disabled children and adults and their families to be in control and to have better lives. We also work with children with special educational needs.

We offer help with planning, meeting other disabled people and their families, advocacy, advocacy groups, social activities, self help meetings and individual development. We work with people who have an individual budget and those who do not.

Geordie Mums is a self-advocacy, social and supportive group for Mums with a learning disability and autistic Mums.

The group meets once a month, on a Wednesday morning.

The group always welcomes new members. To find out more, or to talk about joining the group, please get in touch by phone or email. 

A safe and welcoming group for autistic people to connect with each other.  

Please ring the office on 0191 281 8737 and let us know if you would like to come. 

For more information you can email emily.walsh@skillsforpeople.org.uk 

Children North East exists because growing up can be hard. We want all babies, children and young people to be happy and healthy and to grow up feeling: 

• Safe and loved

• Resilient to the challenges they may face

• Valued and confident  

We have a strong children’s rights ethos and believe that real social change is achieved when those who are, or have, experienced issues lead the change.  

This is a FREE service for parents/carers of children going through the diagnostic process or with a diagnosis of autism.

These groups give support, advice and information on services available to families. Trained autism practitioners will run sessions that aim to:

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

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.

This Facebook group is for local parents of disabled children and young people.  Once you join you can ask other parents about problems you are having and where to get help and share your experiences with one another. 

This page also provides information on activities happening locally including coffee mornings and drop in events.

To find out what is happening, check out the flyers featured on their Facebook group and socials:

Whether you need to hire a wheelchair in Newcastle, rent a disability hoist in Blackpool or hire a mobility scooter in London, you're at the right place - Strive Mobility

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.

Beacon Films CIC is a training and production organisation for people with learning disabilities, autism and additional needs.  We have been given multiple awards for our work.

Throughout the year, we offer a variety of filmmaking projects.  There are also some volunteering opportunities on short film commissions. 

We are a local registered charity providing group transport services for the elderly, disabled, youth and community groups. Most of our 16 seat minibuses have accessible lifts and wheelchair friendly interiors. Modern, wheelchair accessible minibuses available from all depots.

We also deliver a furniture re-use and recycling service. 

If you need a minibus, good quality home or office furniture, or transport-related training we can help. 

Dimensions helps people with learning disabilities, autism, and complex needs live fulfilling lives in their communities. They offer personalized support to give individuals more voice, choice, and control. With 7,000 staff, Dimensions works with families and those they support to improve services. Their goal is to empower people to lead happy, ordinary lives.

Through our person-centred approach we support:

Newcastle Libraries offers reading for pleasure, audiobooks and DVDs, access to information, computers and internet/email access, free learning materials and study space. For more information, please visit our website at https://library.newcastle.gov.uk/

Our Access and Inclusion Service can help with essential information and guidance on a range of statutory areas including:

Who can use the service?

We deliver to anyone living in Newcastle:

• Who is unable to visit their local library due to either permanent or temporary ill health

• Who has caring responsibilities

• Who has a permanent disability

How to apply

Contact us by phone on 0191 278 7878 or by email to kenton.library@newcastle.gov.uk

Max Card is issued by North East Local Authority specialist teams to children in care, and children and young people with additional needs.

Max Card offers these children and their families or carers free or discounted entry into many museums, galleries and heritage attractions across the North East.

Just show your Max Card at the entrance and you will get in for free or at the Max Card discounted rate – see the venues page for a full list of venues offering discounts.