How we support family carers
Caring for a disabled child or young person isn’t always easy, but you don’t have to do it alone. We offer practical advice and support to help families navigate systems, access support, and understand their rights. Through peer support, workshops, and wellbeing sessions, we create spaces where carers can connect, learn, and recharge. Whatever you’re facing, we’re here to help.
How we help
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One-to-one
Advice and information, help with forms and planning for meetings
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Connecting families
Regular coffee mornings and events for family carers, and a facebook group for families
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Wellbeing
Learn how to look after yourself, cope better under pressure, come to a pamper session
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Learning
Come along to a workshop or short course about the things that matter to you, how to support your child with difficult feelings, sleep, transition to adulthood
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Keyworking
For young people up to 25 years old, who are autistic, or have a learning disability and are struggling with their mental health or behaviour
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Information
Factsheets and newsletters to tell families about their rights and activities in their area
Guidance and information
Families can find it difficult to navigate education, health and social care services: our Newcastle Families Advice and Support Team (FAST) helps families to understand the systems, and get the support they need. We give simple, clear guidance to family carers.
Our team helps with things like school, health, housing, and benefits. We explain tricky systems so families can understand them. We’re here to help with things like filling out forms, knowing your rights, or finding the right services.
We link carers to groups, workshops, and events. These give carers the chance to meet others, share advice, and feel less alone. We want carers to feel supported and ready to face challenges.
Connecting families
Some family carers can feel alone when they are facing a range of challenges. Others feel isolated if they cannot get out of the family home often.
We know it helps to meet other parents who understand. That’s why we create chances for families to come together. Our Newcastle Families Guidance and Support Team’s coffee mornings and drop-in sessions are friendly places where parents can share ideas and make friends. These groups help carers feel part of a team.
We support a Facebook group called “Pass It On Parents”. Here, families can share tips, ask questions, and support each other online. Whether parents need guidance or just want to chat, these groups bring people together.
View Facebook GroupWellbeing
Caring for a loved one can take its toll on the mental and physical health of families. We provide workshops where family carers can learn about how to protect their mental health, and to look after themselves.
Courses and Events
Our courses and events help carers learn, and take a break. We run workshops for family carers to learn about supporting your child with difficult feelings, sleep, transition to adulthood, access to services, benefits, and the law.
These events are a great way to get new ideas, meet others, and feel more confident.
Expert family trainers lead short courses to teach families about Positive Behavioural Support and how it can support them and their children.
Keyworking
Children and families are entitled to the support of a specialist Keyworker where the child/young person has a learning disability or is autistic, when the young person may be at risk of being admitted to hospital because of their mental health or behaviour.
Please click for more information about our Keyworker service.
Click here if you want to make a referral