Our young people are facing a mental health crisis. This March, we are urgently asking for your support so no child is left without somewhere to turn for help when they are desperate. Just £10 could help us provide life-changing services to a child reaching crisis point.

Why now is the time make a difference:

• Urgent referrals of under-18s to mental health crisis teams are up 46%. ¹

• Waits for assessment and NHS treatment are now reaching up to three years. ²

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Just some of the programmes providing a lifeline in this crisis…

DARE Domestic Abuse Recovery Programme

“The connection the children make with each other is incredibly important. They see they are not alone, there can be support and understanding from people within their age group.”

The only programme on it’s kind in the North East, DARE is a group-based recovery programme for children who have experienced domestic abuse. The children’s sessions use play, stories, drawing and games to help them identify their feelings around separation, loss, anger and any abuse they may have suffered. They are then taught new skills around how to express and manage their feelings.

Learn more

Counselling

“Talking helps me, having a place that’s safe to talk helps me feel that I can cope with life, and stops me believing all the rubbish stuff that’s going on in my head.”

Last year the team had 524 referrals into its counselling service, which provides services to 9-25 year olds who have emotional wellbeing and mental health issues including trauma, domestic violence, sexual abuse, bereavement, anxiety and depression.

Learnmore

SAFE: Support for Victims of Sexual Abuse

“Sensitive and difficult discussions were handled with kindness, gentleness and empathy; this has been hugely beneficial.”

One in 20 children in the UK will experience child sexual abuse. Our expert team of mental health professionals are here to provide therapeutic support for victims, their families and others impacted by the abuse.

Read one family's story

BU Wellbeing Course

“The results with the children speak for themselves. I have complete confidence in Children North East.”

Delivered in schools to small groups, the BU Wellbeing Course supports children and young people to build resilience and develop the foundations for positive mental health and emotional wellbeing.

Learn more

Dealing with the impact of the sexual abuse of a child or young person can be a difficult and complex journey for the victim, as well as the family and those close to them. While it is estimated one in 20 children will experience some form of sexual abuse in the UK, finding the right support for recovery for victims and their families can be complicated. 

Children North East’s SAFE (Sexual Abuse Family Engagement) programme provides expert, specialist therapeutic support for victims and tailored support and information for family members. 

One family who was supported through the project shares their experience to inform and encourage others who may benefit from the service. 

“We feel lucky to have found Children North East at a time when our family needed your support most. We have found the support invaluable. Children North East’s response to our request for support was prompt and very responsive. 

Our child accessed an initial assessment very quickly and the course my wife and I were offered was unexpected but most welcome and most necessary.  

We were quickly offered a comprehensive and well-structured programme of support. The eight week course we undertook increased our knowledge base and enabled us to support our children and help our family recover from this unwanted adverse experience. 

Our allocated worker, Bernadette, was very skilled and put us at ease immediately. She tailored the course to meet our family’s specific situation and the support and guidance she offered felt both bespoke and responsive. Sensitive and difficult discussions were handled with kindness, gentleness and empathy; this has been hugely beneficial. 

We have finished the course and our family is now in a much stronger position to cope with the situation with successful outcomes for each member of our family. 

We strongly believe that awareness of this course to all professionals who support families dealing with the sexual abuse of children should be widened. Police, children’s social services, educational professionals and health professionals should all be in a position to signpost families to this service when they need it.” 

If you are a young person or family who has been the victim of sexual abuse, or work with someone who could benefit from the programme, you can make referrals to the SAFE team. The SAFE team can provide more information and support you to complete the referral process. To learn more about the programme and the referral process please visit our dedicated website page or contact Katie Graham on [email protected].  

Boy walks across school field

Since the pandemic, school avoidance (also known as school refusal) has been on the rise, with ‘persistent absence’ almost doubling since pre-Covid level according to the Department for Education. If you’re a parent or carer navigating school avoidance, you’re not alone. 

Children and teens who resist attending school regularly can find significant disruption to their education, social development and wellbeing, so it is an issue that many parents want to act on.  

Whether your child is outright refusing to attend school or shows signs of distress or depression when confronted with school attendance, there are positive actions families can take to support a pathway back to regular attendance. 

This short guide from Children North East shares some expert guidance and techniques to support your child or teen avoiding school. 

Establish a safe environment for communication 

Create a safe space at home where your child feels comfortable expressing their concerns about school. Encourage open dialogue without judgment, and actively listen to their worries and fears. Assure them that their feelings are valid and that you are there to support them every step of the way. 

Explore the causes, not just the symptoms 

Work together with your child to identify the underlying reasons behind their reluctance to attend school. Are they experiencing bullying, academic struggles, social anxiety or other stressors? Understanding the root causes is crucial in developing effective solutions tailored to your child’s needs. 

Work with the school 

Reach out to their teachers and other support staff to discuss your child’s situation and explore what help might be available. This could be informal adjustments or access to dedicated support services. Request a meeting to develop a plan that addresses your child’s needs and keep regular communication with school staff to understand developments. 

Establish a consistent routine 

Consistency and structure can help alleviate anxiety and provide a sense of stability for children experiencing school avoidance. Establish a daily routine that includes regular mealtimes, bedtime rituals, and time to relax doing things they enjoy. Consistency fosters a sense of predictability and security, which can be comforting for children experiencing emotional distress. 

Set achievable goals 

Break down the process of returning to school into manageable steps and set achievable goals with your child. Start with small milestones, such as attending school for part of a day or taking part in a favourite activity.  

Support them to develop coping strategies 

Equip your child with practical coping strategies to manage their anxiety and stress. There are lots of great resources you can access online such as through Coping Skills For Kids, Anna Freud and the Red Cross Self-Kindness Toolkit are good places to start. 

Encourage peer support 

Encourage your child to build positive relationships with classmates by arranging playdates, promoting group activities, or taking outings where they can socialise in a relaxed setting outside of school. Connecting with understanding friends can help reduce feelings of isolation and increase their sense of belonging.

Monitor progress and adjust as you go 

Keep track of your child’s progress in overcoming school avoidance and be prepared to change strategies as needed. Reflect on changes in their behaviour or wellbeing and seek professional guidance if you notice persistent difficulties.   

Celebrate every step 

Celebrating each success along the way, no matter how small, can reinforce positive behaviour and boost your child’s confidence. Offer words of encouragement, praise their efforts, and remind them of their strengths and resilience.  

If you’re a parent or carer and need support with School Avoidance or other mental health related challenges experienced by your child or teen, our Ways to Wellbeing programme has been developed to support you to better understand children and young people’s emotional development and to explore subjects related to mental health and wellbeing such as anxiety, depression, self-harm, suicidal thoughts and eating disorders.  

Learn more about Ways to Wellbeing >  

View more Ways to Wellbeing Resources > 

The general election gives us the opportunity for a major reset by the next government, to ensure our society properly invests in the next generation and tackles once and for all the barriers getting in the way of a happy childhood. 

An Investment Not a Cost: Putting children at the heart of the next Government is our briefing for members of the next Government and those informing policymaking. It provides insights and data and sets out what actions government needs to take to support happy, healthy young lives within families, school and communities. 

Summary of our call on the next Government  

In summary, the top priorities for the next government, for both legislation and investment must be: 

• Tackling Child Poverty, including delivering a national, cross-departmental strategy to tackle child poverty and reform the Universal Credit system.

• Prioritising mental wellbeing, including properly resourcing children’s mental health provision to remove long waits and rolling out Early Support Hubs in all communities nationally. 

• Strengthening families, including addressing access to childcare during school holidays for working parents, early education that provides the best outcomes for children, and early intervention for families who are struggling. 

• Giving all young people the chance to thrive, including ensuring all children and young people have access to education appropriate to their needs and eliminating long waits for assessments for children presenting with neurodivergent needs .  

• Enabling happy childhoods, including sustainable funding for youth services that are available to all young people all year round and ensuring children have safe spaces to play. 

Download: An Investment Not a Cost

CEOs are putting their leadership to the test as they come together to take on a daring Firewalk Challenge in support of local charity, Children North East. 

Leigh Elliott, Chief Executive of Children North East and Sam Allen Chief Executive of the NHS North East and North Cumbria ICB, are proving their bravery to raise funds and awareness for the charity, which supports over 4,500+ people each year with services such as counselling, youth work and help for families in crisis. 

The pair are calling on other leaders from across the region to ‘show their teams what they’re made of’ and join them in the unique challenge; which takes place on 7th March at Crowne Plaza, Newcastle. 

Sam commented, “I’m excited to be taking in part this challenge on behalf of Children North East. Whilst walking the hot coals may be daunting, it’s nothing compared to the obstacles faced by the children the charity work with, who bravely face circumstances such as food poverty, domestic abuse and mental health difficulties.”  

Firewalks, often associated with traditional spiritual ceremonies, involve participants walking over a path of hot embers. Whilst they are safe, they demonstrate the power of mindset to overcome challenges. 

Leigh commented, “It’s inspiring that Sam, who leads an NHS workforce of 170,000 people, is taking part in this challenge. It demonstrates a real commitment to supporting local communities. Everyone who is joining the Firewalk is doing something very special that will help change the lives of babies, children and young people in the region.” 

If you would like to sign-up for the Firewalk Challenge, you can register for your place online.

If you would like to sponsor Sam and Leigh, you can go so via their JustGiving page.

In a bid to support children and families around the region, Hairy Biker, Si King is again backing the Bake4Bairns challenge.

Children North East are encouraging people from around the region to bake for good this winter. By baking your favourite dishes, and hosting a sale or making a donation, communities and local groups have the perfect excuse to get together over the festive season, whilst also changing the lives of children and young people.

Si is enthusiastic about the challenge, saying “I’ve been a long-time supporter of Children North East and I’m delighted to be involved in their Bake4Bairns Challenge. It’s important, particularly now in the environment we’re in, to get involved because small acts of kindness make a huge difference to families in need.”

Children North East has been in existence since 1891, helping children and families at home and in school. Support is available from pregnancy onwards, with projects for young people up to the age of 25.

Donations made from local people and communities support children and families in many different ways, with 4,544 babies, children and young people supported last year, through 65 different projects offering mental health support, help for families in crisis and warm, safe youth drop-ins.

Billie Jenkins, Communications and Fundraising Manager at Children North East shared, “Christmas is a moment for family, friends and of course, food. Baking offers a perfect opportunity to share a special moment whether you’re Head Baker or Chief Taster. By fundraising for babies, children and young people in our region you can bring that bit of extra magic to your baking, knowing your contribution will help fund life-changing support. We’re incredibly grateful to Si King for supporting the initiative.”