Children North East is the region’s oldest children’s charity. Since it was founded in 1891 it has made life-changing differences to local children and young people in their families, schools and communities.
In the North East, one in three children lives in poverty. But poverty isn’t the only factor that can limit positive childhood experiences and over the last 10 years there have been rises in the number of children and young people facing mental health issues, family breakdown, isolation, domestic abuse, sexual exploitation, unemployment and more.
Following the spread of coronavirus (Covid-19) the charity’s work is needed now more than ever in the region, as the virus has amplified these issues, making a detrimental impact on those in need in the North East.
Children North East is working hard to adapt existing services, projects and resources to meet the needs of beneficiaries in line with government and public health guidance, with digital and phone-based systems introduced to ensure continued access to its work.
The charity is also responding to the growing and emerging needs of service users and the wider North East demographic in this time of crisis. From providing food parcels and addressing inequalities in resources available for children unable to attend school due to closures, to providing phone or online counselling to young people who are struggling with isolation and introducing support systems for expectant parents during pregnancy at a time of great worry and anxiety - it aims to provide support where it's needed most.
Children North East is approaching its 130th anniversary and despite the challenging situation that coronavirus brings, work continues to invest in the lives of babies, children, young people and families in the region to ensure they have healthier and happier childhoods in 2020 and beyond.
Four key services are offered across the organisation; services for schools, services for the Newcastle Parent Infant Partnership (NEWPIP), young people’s services, and those for families and parents. The Children North East website will be updated in the coming weeks and months in response to coronavirus. The charity has outlined the measures being introduced across each of these four services and each section has contact details for the relevant service manager.
If there's anything you would like to discuss, contact Operations Director Michele Deans at michele.deans@children-ne.org.uk or by phone at 07854 862 291.