Overview

Education and Services for People with Autism Limited is a Registered Charity with over 24 years’ experience of supporting people on the autism spectrum.

ESPA’s services include:

You are at the heart of everything we do. We are continually investing in our campus, facilities and opportunities, to make sure you have the best experience possible.

This is reflected in high levels of student satisfaction:

Westgate Community College provides a wide range of community education courses. Each year we provide courses across around 40 subjects involving 700 part-time students.

Facilitating creative and vocational opportunities

Flow is committed to facilitating, promoting and enhancing the future for young adults with additional needs. We wish to engage young people in creative and vocational opportunities to develop their skills and self-esteem in order for them to play a purposeful role within the community.

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.

Liberdade provide performing arts and health and well-being courses for adults with learning disabilities and autism. Activities are run from Gosforth Civic Theatre

Our arts and health activities can be part of a study programme for post-16 SEN students. They can also be an alternative to social and further education for students leaving college.

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

We have a range of programmes from Pre-entry to Level 2 focusing on independent living skills, social and community involvement as well as work and life skills. Please note days are subject to availability and change.

Choose from the subjects below:

Pathways to Working Life

This pathway is for young people with a learning disability and/or difficulty who would like to develop their skills and progress into employment whilst working on core skills such as maths and English along with employment skills. The course will help you with your personal social and economic welfare, and you will receive pastoral support to help you fulfil your aspirations and reach your goals.

We are Nordoff Robbins Music Therapy Charity!

As the UK’s largest music therapy charity, we use music to enrich the lives of people with life-limiting illness, disabilities or feelings of isolation.

There are one-to-one music lessons delivered by music therapists. This is suited for people with autism or learning difficulties. Click here to learn more and to apply: Accessible music learning - Nordoff and Robbins.

This service is not provided by the NHS.

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. 

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:

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.

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; 

FREE Inclusive Art & Craft Workshops – Summer Series!

For ages 8+

Hosted by Disability North, led and delivered by Zoe from Zone 31 CIC!

Join us for a summer of fun, creative, and sensory-friendly art sessions designed for all abilities! Each week features different activities that are fully adaptable and inclusive, perfect for anyone who loves to get creative or try something new.

What to Expect Across the Sessions: