Advice for families
Families, parenting and healthy relationships
Managing family life can be tough - limited time to rest, balancing work and childcare commitments, supporting your child's schoolwork, keeping in touch with others and looking after your own wellbeing. There is a wide range of free advice and support available on-line to help you manage a calm, stable family life during difficult times.
Our Family Hubs are an excellent first call for help with family issues - view the support on offer on our Family Hubs webpages.
Many families are experiencing extra pressures on family relationships and household income during this time. Advice of managing the cost of living can be found on our help with the cost of living webpages.
Support for parents
Healthy relationships with your child
Family Links Nurture (opens new window)
My Kids Time (opens new window)
Family Lives (opens new window)
Safe parenting - putting your child first
Action for Children (opens new window)
CAFCASS – Family Courts (opens new window)
Supporting children with additional needs
Council for Disabled Children (opens new window)
National Autistic Society (opens new window)
CHADD (ADHD) (opens new window)
Adult relationships
Support for parents (PDF) [154KB] (opens new window)
You can also access free digital support on the One Plus One website (opens new window)
Parent Resources FAQs (PDF) [205KB] (opens new window)
Space for us too (opens new window)
If you have a social/family support worker, you can talk to them about the 'Relationships Matter' programme or call 0191 433 3355 for details. Alternatively you can complete an enquiry form on the Relate website (opens new window).
Domestic abuse
Home may not be the safe place it should be. Contact Northumbria Police on 101 or 999 in an emergency and dial 55 if unable to speak.
Gateshead Domestic Abuse Team can be contacted directly on 0191 433 3333.
Domestic Abuse Helpline (opens new window)
Women’s Aid (opens new window)
Men’s Advice Line (opens new window)
Keep well, stay in control
Just like our physical health, our emotional wellbeing needs care and attention.
NHS: Stress, anxiety and depression (opens new window)
Life balance
Live Life to the Full (opens new window)
Action for Happiness (opens new window)
Supporting and engaging your children
Activities for children of all ages
Change4Life: Activities (opens new window)
Activity Village (opens new window)
Gateshead Libraries Children's Team - Twitter (opens new window)
Woodland Trust (opens new window)
Tyne and Wear Museums (opens new window)
Live Science (opens new window)
Save the Children (opens new window)
Sport England (opens new window)
Our Gateshead: Things to do (opens new window)
Activities for younger children
Hungry Little Minds (opens new window)
Seven Stories - Twitter (opens new window)
Family Information Service and directory
Support for home schooling
Many parents are now responsible for home schooling alongside work and other commitments. Most schools are providing useful links to learning resources on their websites, through direct email or on social media platforms. Extra help is available online.
BBC Bitesize (opens new window)
Oak National Academy (opens new window)
Home Education UK (opens new window)
Wellbeing of children and young people
It's normal for your children to feel worried or anxious right now.
Young Minds (opens new window)
Child Bereavement UK (opens new window)
Guide to mental health support for children and young people (PDF) [1MB] (opens new window)
Eating disorders
Managing your child's sleep
ICON - Babies cry you can cope - Advice and Support (opens new window)
Sleep Advice Service - Cerebra (opens new window)
The Lullaby Trust - Safer sleep for babies, Support for families (opens new window)
Healthy sleep tips for children - NHS (opens new window)
Self harm
Staying safe online
More time at home often means more screen time for children. Keep it safe - supervise and set parental controls.
If you have concerns about the safety of a child you should phone Gateshead Children's Services on 0191 433 2653 Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 5pm or 0191 477 0844 out of hours, evenings, weekends and bank holidays. Further details are available on our worried about a child in Gateshead webpage.