Family Fund supports families living across the UK who are who are raising a disabled or seriously ill child or young person up to the age of 17. Our support is focused on those on low incomes with a child/children who have a high level of additional support needs.

At Family Fund, we believe that all families raising disabled or seriously ill children and young people should have the same choices, quality of life, opportunities and aspirations as other families.

Children Today helps provide specialised equipment for children and young people with disabilities throughout the UK. The aim is to ensure that every disabled child and young person fulfils their potential and leads an active childhood.

We believe the provision of specialised equipment has a direct and immediate impact on a child’s quality of life and independence, and is vital in helping them to overcome obstacles and achieve their potential. Equipment can include wheelchairs, walking frames, tricycles and other mobility aids along with multi-sensory equipment.

The Access Fund is a grant to help disabled children and young people to participate in activities in their local community.  This can be any daytime, evening or weekend activity that the child or young person enjoys whilst their parent/carer has a break from caring.   The Access Fund seeks to support children and young people to take part in inclusive activities alongside their non- disabled peers.

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.

Residents of Karbon Housing can get specialist advice on welfare benefits, money advice, home energy or help finding work or training. Whether one off advice or the help of a dedicated caseworker is needed, Karbon’s dedicated team of expert advisers can help.

To self refer, you can email moneymatters@karbonhomes.co.uk, fill in a quick online form https://www.karbonhomes.co.uk/customer-area/my-money or phone 0808 164 0111 

Rays of Sunshine Children's Charity exists to grant the wishes of children who are living with serious or life-threatening illnesses between the ages of 3-18 who live in the United Kingdom.

Our dedicated wish team responds to all wish applications within two weeks. We do not operate a waiting list, but give every wish our immediate attention.

With your help they and their families can experience the joy and excitement of doing something they've only ever dreamt of before.

Help us turn wishes into happy memories.

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.

Based in Newcastle, we provide dyslexia testing and diagnosis, specialist dyslexia and learning difficulties support, along with behaviour and educational consultancy for parents, individuals, private sector, state and private education.

Ofsted registered.

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.

ASLI is the Association of Sign Language Interpreters in the United Kingdom. Established in 1987,

We aim to raise awareness and make sure D/deaf, Deafblind and Hard of Hearing people have access to information and services in the same way as hearing people.  We provide information and signposting for deaf-related services. 

Deaflink has developed as an organisation with the principles of inclusion and empowerment, trying to bring people and agencies in partnership to understand better the needs and issues of D/deaf, Deafblind and Hard of Hearing people.

Charity number 1147237

PANS (paediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric syndrome) and PANDAS (paediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric syndrome associated with strep) are devastating neuropsychiatric conditions that are currently poorly recognised, diagnosed and supported both medically and in schools.  

One estimate suggests that up to 1 in 200 children suffer from this condition. 

The Toby Henderson Trust (TTHT) is an independently funded charity supporting autistic children, their families and carers.  After 15 years at Whitehouse Farm the trust has recently moved to Toby House, Earth Balance, Bedlington, Northumberland.

We are the one and only charity in the North East focused on life changing early intervention with autistic children (aged 2 to 7). Our service users tell us early intervention can transform the life of a child…

We work in partnership with people with a learning disability, and all our services support people to live life as they choose.

Our work includes:

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.

Providing services for people living with hearing loss and their families and carers. 

Hearing Link works with and on behalf of adults living with hearing loss, and their relatives, friends and colleagues. Our focus is on the social and psychological needs of people affected by hearing loss, rather than the medical, audiological or technical aspects of hearing impairment.

If you are struggling with any mental health issues, for whatever reason, we are here to help you.

Our One to One counselling service helps you (as long as you are aged 9 to 25 years old) with your mental health issues. Our friendly counsellors are expertly trained which means we can help you by using a variety of therapy techniques. Whatever the issues affecting your life we are here to help. This includes depression, anxiety, bullying, self-harming, loss and bereavement.

Ambitious about Autism has a rapidly growing online Ambitious Youth Network to enable more autistic young people to have their voices heard. Through the network, autistic young people between the ages of 16 to 25 can share experiences, connect with others, have their say on Ambitious about Autism’s projects as well as access a range of opportunities to advocate and improve services for autistic young people.  

What is Makaton?

Makaton is a unique language programme that uses symbols, signs and speech to enable people to communicate.

It supports the development of essential communication skills such as:

• Attention and Listening
• Comprehension
• Memory
• Recall and Organisation of Language
• Expression.

It is designed to support spoken language and the signs and symbols are used with speech, in spoken word order.

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.

Who are we?

Targeted Provision is a leading provider of relationship-based tutoring and mentoring for young people who find it difficult to learn in the mainstream environment.

What do we do?

We provide tutoring and mentoring for children and young people (from early years to post-16) who find it difficult to learn in the mainstream classroom.

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.

A quiet room for you and your child to relax with various sensory items. The room includes

• Colour changing LED bubble tower

• CD player with a range of CD's of children's songs

• Light up bouncy balls

• Music instruments

• Fidget toys

• And more!

To book your 1 hour session please phone or email.

Please note that the room is only small. Only two households are allowed on one booking.

For parents/carers of children who are on the diagnostic pathway or post diagnosis of Autism. Children must be living in Newcastle.

Supporting your autistic child workshop

These sessions will cover:

• worries and action planning

• common misconceptions

• differences in autistic children

• practical strategies to use in everyday life

We have the following dates available:

For parents/carers of children who are on the diagnostic pathway or post diagnosis of Autism. Children must be living in Newcastle.

Supporting your autistic child workshop

These sessions will cover:

• worries and action planning

• common misconceptions

• differences in autistic children

• practical strategies to use in everyday life

These sessions will run 10-12 and must be pre-booked.