Directory: Children and Young People
Resources and advice for families, children and young people. Thanks to InformationNOW for compiling much of this information.
School through, or tap the buttons to jump to a section.
Pregnancy
Start for Life is a trusted NHS website offering helpful information and support for pregnancy, babies, and toddlers.
- Pregnancy: Week-by-week guide, vitamin advice, and healthy eating tips
- Babies: Parenting support, breastfeeding guidance, vaccination info, and free tools
- Toddlers: Tips for talking, reading, playing, and staying active
You can also visit Children & Families Newcastle for more information, and Involve North East for pregnancy videos for parents with English as an additional language.
Babies and Young Children
The Little Orange Book is a handy guide for parents and carers, offering expert advice on common childhood illnesses – from teething and colds to more serious conditions like measles, Covid-19, and meningitis.
- Learn how to manage common illnesses in babies and young children
- Know what symptoms to look out for
- Use the simple traffic light system to decide when to seek help
- Helps reduce unnecessary GP and hospital visits
Watch the video below and bookmark or download The Little Orange Book today.
Healthier Together is a trusted NHS website and App for the North East and North Cumbria, offering reliable, clinician-approved advice for parents, carers, young people, and health professionals.
- Covers everything from pregnancy and caring for poorly babies to emotional wellbeing for teens
- Includes practical tools like “Should my child go to school today?”
- New topics and guidance are added regularly
- All content is reviewed by local healthcare professionals for accuracy and safety
Groups and Community Hubs
There are plenty of friendly baby and toddler groups across Newcastle where you can meet other parents and help your little one play and learn. Many of these groups are held in community spaces, including places of worship – you can find a full list on the Newcastle Support Directory.
If you’re looking for extra support, Children and Families Newcastle offers Early Help services for parents and carers facing challenges or wanting to prevent issues before they arise. Community Hubs are welcoming spaces where families can access advice, training, and activities to support their children’s development and wellbeing – from baby groups to practical parenting support.
Support for Parents
Parenting can be both exciting and overwhelming. Tiredness, stress, and the demands of family life can sometimes lead to tension or arguments – especially with those closest to you. Disagreements are a normal part of any relationship, but how you handle them can have a big impact on your wellbeing and your children’s.
Support is available through the Children and Families Early Help and Community Hubs mentioned above, as well as other services across Newcastle. You can find local advice and support on InformationNOW for:
- Family and relationship problems
- Grandparenting issues
- OnePlusOne – free digital resources to help build healthier relationships
These resources can help you manage family challenges, strengthen your relationships, and support your children’s emotional wellbeing.
Common Childhood Illnesses
As children start to mix with others, it’s normal for them to catch common illnesses – it helps build their immune system. Most of these are mild and manageable at home, but it’s important to know when to seek help.
If you’re ever concerned about your child’s health, contact your GP. If your child is floppy, difficult to wake, unresponsive, or unusually sleepy, go straight to A&E.
You can read more on the NHS website about:
- Coughs, colds and ear infections
- Rashes
- Slapped cheek syndrome
- Hand, foot and mouth disease
- Conjunctivitis
- Chickenpox
- Diarrhoea and vomiting
Illnesses such as Meningitis, Sepsis, blood poisoning or septicaemia can be very serious for babies and children. It’s important to know the symptoms as children might not be able to let you know they’re feeling ill.
Health Visitors and School Nurses
Health Visitors and School Nurses are NHS professionals who support children and families from birth up to 19 years old. They work with you to improve your child’s health and wellbeing and can meet you at home, in a clinic, or at school.
They offer:
- Support for your child’s growth, development, and emotional health
- Advice on healthy living – including stopping smoking, dental care, nutrition, and contraception
Their support is confidential and tailored to your needs. If specialist help is needed, they’ll guide you to the right services.
Registering with a GP and Dentist
Registering with a GP means your child can get essential healthcare like vaccinations, regular check-ups, and quick support when they’re unwell.
You need to live inside our practice’s ‘catchment area’ to register as a patient.
Dentist surgeries don’t have catchment areas, so just find one that is convenient for you that is accepting new NHS patients.
Immunisations and Vaccinations
Immunisations and vaccines are one of the best ways to protect children from serious illnesses. They help keep your child safe and stop diseases from spreading in the community.
The NHS offers immunisations that protect against serious illnesses like measles, mumps, polio, meningitis, and whooping cough.
In July 2025, the timings for some immunisations changed, and more changes are due in 2026. Click the button below for more information and the full schedule.
Mental Health
Kooth is an online mental health and counselling service available every day of the year. Young people can log in to access helpful resources, set personal goals, and chat privately with qualified counsellors whenever they need support.
The Patient Information Centre at Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust offers a variety of self-help guides designed to support mental wellbeing.
InformationNOW has a range of advice and local support in Newcastle, including:
US Active is a Newcastle-based charity. They work with young people aged 12 to 25 who are experiencing, or at risk of, mental health challenges. They encourage participation in sports and activities chosen by the young person, promoting physical exercise as a way to enhance mood, build confidence, and improve self-esteem.
Carers
Carers are people who look after a family member or friend who needs help due to illness, disability, frailty, or substance issues. This includes young carers—under-18s who take on caring responsibilities that can impact their wellbeing and future opportunities – and kinship carers, such as grandparents or relatives who raise children when their parents are unable to.
Support is available to help carers manage their role without taking on too much. This includes access to breaks, wellbeing funds, support groups, benefits advice, and more. Learn how to balance caring for others with looking after yourself on InformationNOW and find resources for kinship carers.
Maternity, Paternity and Adoption Benefits
Learn about the different types of parental pay available – including maternity, paternity, adoption, and shared parental leave -who’s eligible, how much you can receive, and how to apply.
InformationNOW’s benefits guide can help you understand your financial support options during pregnancy and early parenthood, plus links to more general support.
Refugees and Asylum seekers
The Action Foundation is a Newcastle-based charity that supports immigrants, asylum seekers, families, and individuals facing challenges in the local community. They provide practical services, advice, and activities aimed at improving wellbeing, building confidence, and helping people settle and thrive.
Specialising in support for refugees and asylum seekers, the Action Foundation offers a welcoming environment and valuable resources to help navigate life in the UK. Find out more about their work and how they can assist you at actionfoundation.org.uk.