I CAN is the children’s communication charity. We are experts in helping children develop the speech, language and communication skills they need to thrive in a 21st century world.

Our vision is a world where all children have the communication skills they need to fulfil their potential.

Our mission is that no child should be left out or left behind because of a difficulty speaking or understanding.

We are Speech and Language UK, and we want every child to face the future with confidence.

For at least 1.7 million children in the UK, learning to talk and understand words feels like an impossible hurdle.  So we give children and young people the skills they need so they aren't left behind, waiting to be understood.  

Our vision

Every child who is facing challenges with talking and understanding words can look to the future with confidence.

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.

In April 2022, Havannah First School was created when Broadway East First School relocated to Newcastle Great Park and changed its name to reflect the new location. This move has been planned for a long time and we are delighted to now be in our wonderful, state of the art brand new school and grounds. We are still part of the Gosforth Schools' Trust and are part of the Gosforth three tier Pyramid.

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

Comets is a pan-disability football programme for disabled boys and girls aged between 5 and 11. Players with a broad range of impairments and health conditions can play together.

Comets is all about playfulness, friendships and having fun. More than anything, Comets is football that breaks the old rules and replaces them with a brand new one: JUST BE YOU.

The sessions are ran by lots of brilliant and enthusiastic coaches, the kids love it every week.

If interested in attending, please contact Mandy on 07583052726.

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.

A safe space for parents and carers to come together and support each other.

Who’s it for?

Parents and carers of children with SEND – no diagnosis needed. No referral needed, you can just drop in. There is no cost to attend.

Where and when is it?

Galafield Family Hub on the 2^nd & last Friday of the month, 9:30-11:30am

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) 

• Summer holiday activities 

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

The Tree House Early Years Centre provides a range of Educational, Social, Therapeutic and Health activities / services for children aged 0-5 with SEND, and their families.

The centre was officially opened by councillor Lesley Storey in September 2023. The following video showcases the opening of the Centre and highlights some of facilities and activities available for children and their families.

Kalmer Counselling are commissioned by Children and Young Peoples Service (CYPS) to provide counselling to children and young people with a learning disability or learning difficulty.

We also work with those who are awaiting a neurodevelopmental assessment.

Click here to download and read a copy of our flyer that explains the process.
 

Specialist support into employment 

Disability confident, Veteran Aware, Carer Aware and fully funded. 

Participants will automatically receive a 15-month support plan, including 6 months support once they enter employment and our rapid response support should they fall out of work within 15 months of signing up with us.

Our eligibility criteria are as follows:

EarlyBird is a course for parents who have a child under 5 with a diagnosis of autism. It is a 10-week course consisting of 8 face to face group sessions and 2 home visits.

The programme aims to support parents post diagnosis and establish good practice in supporting their child at an early age.

The British Society for Paediatric Dentistry has launched a set of infographics with the Top 3 tips for preventing tooth decay aimed at improving oral health which have now been translated into the five languages.  

The aim is that the infographics will be widely used by both dental and non-dental healthcare professionals to support conversations about good oral health behaviours and become a key tool for in-surgery preventive advice. BSPD’s Top 3 tips for preventing tooth decay is now available in the following languages:

1. Punjabi

The Twisting Ducks Theatre Company provides accessible opportunities for people with learning disabilities and autistic people to express themselves creatively, and to develop their skills, confidence, independence and social connections.

Our weekly Performing Arts and Music academies are for people with Learning disabilities and autistic people, aged 16 and over.

Whether you want to  DJ at our club night, act on stage, or perform in a live band, our Academies can help you to achieve your goals.

Café Beam @ Gosforth provides work placements for young people with learning difficulties and disabilities, helping them gain valuable work and life skills.

What is Café Beam?
Café Beam is a place where young people can learn to work in a café environment. They help prepare food, serve customers, handle money, and more. The café serves delicious, home-cooked food using fresh, local ingredients from Ouseburn Farm.

Benefits of Joining

Does your child have a special educational need or disability?

Come to our support group. It’s a friendly place for parents and carers to chat and get advice.

• Get advice from professionals.

• Talk to other parents and carers.

• Share ideas.

This group meets on the first Monday of every month. 

No need to book - just turn up.

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; 

SEN sessions at the Owl Tree Community Nest. Children can run, climb, and explore in the larger hall with a soft play area.  They can also use the sensory room. Included is a reserved table in the main café for families with SEN children. For children aged 0-5, but older children are welcome.

Every other Friday: 1:30pm - 5:00pm

Every other Monday: 10:30am - 2:30pm

No need to book in advance. You can arrive and leave anytime between the times shown.  

ICEbox is a youth club for young disabled people aged 16-25.  It is ran by professional artists and support staff at the studio on Mosley Street.  

Every Wednesday: 6.30pm-8.45pm

Each session costs £5.  You can attend on a pay as you go basis. 

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.

Are you a neurodivergent young person aged 16-25 who could benefit from a mentor to support you with the skills for employment? 

The Neurodiversity Employability Project works with neurodivergent young people, whether you have a formal diagnosis or self-identify. We match young people across Tyne and Wear with mentors who can help you: