Inspired Support helps people with learning difficulties or autism.  They aim to help develop talents, social skills, life skills, and more. There is a particular focus on the needs and wants of the individual and having fun.  Sessions are led by local professionals and can focus on:

We care for children and young adults with progressive, life shortening conditions from across the North East.

Our team of skilled staff provide residential short breaks to local families. Up to six children and young adults can stay at any one time in our relaxed, home-from-home environment.

Children from birth to 18 can benefit from short breaks here. Teenagers benefit from their own living area – complete with games consoles, wide screen TV and PC’s.

We also care for young adults aged 18- 25 in designated, age-appropriate facilities.

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:

The Alan Shearer Short Break Centre offers specialised breaks, from overnight to longer stays, for children and adults with a range of disabilities.

Our dedicated staff are trained in caring for people with profound and multiple disabilities, autism and Asperger's Syndrome.

We offer skilled and experienced support for those with additional health or medical needs and those who require specialist care.

Over The Wall provides FREE residential activity camps for children and teenagers living with serious health challenges and their families, to enable them to reach beyond their perceived limitations and rediscover a whole new world of possibilities. Our camps help develop the confidence, self esteem, coping strategies and peer relationships of our campers.

Our Programmes

These inclusive music sessions are:

• Free

• Interactive

• In person

• For young people aged 12 to 18

Using music tech, this session will suit both a complete beginner or knowledgeable musician.

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.

Inclusive art class held one Saturday every month for 10-15 year olds. 

If you would like to book, go to Saturday Art Classes for 10-15 year olds | What's On | Laing Art Gallery and click 'Book now' or email learning@laingartgallery.org.uk.

If you would like informal conversation with the tutor before attending, please get in touch via email. 

£7 per person

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:

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

Our Contemporary Dance Class is open to young people with learning disabilities who enjoy dance. 

All you have to do is turn up! Led by a qualified contemporary dance practitioner. 

Beginners contemporary is perfect for those wishing to attend a fun class. This class will leave you feeling energised, inspired and worked out!

Join us for FREE monthly workshops! Designed for deaf children and young people aged 5 - 12 years. Delivered by Unfolding Theatre.

North East Deaf Youth Theatre explores all aspects of theatre-making including: 

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; 

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. 

Join us for inclusive sessions of dance, movement, and aerial at Dance City, held two Sundays per month. 

This group is inclusive and has just 10 places so that we can welcome all abilities and needs. Pre booking recommended and Under 5s are welcome but a parent/guardian must be present.

Each session costs £8.75 or £7 for Accessible Price (click here to learn more Pricing - Dance City)

To book, go to the relevant page and click 'Book Now':