The All Carers Group meets 2.30 pm to 4.00 pm on Tuesday 10th of September for a monthly dose of information and support. Carers of someone with any condition are warmly invited to meet people in similar situations and learn something new. If you have not attended the group before, call 0191 2496480 or email enquiries@ntcarers.co.uk and Alison will welcome you.

Meets in the Illustrious room, Wallsend Library, The Forum, NE28 8JR. Close to Wallsend Metro and buses on Wallsend High Street.

The Mental Health Carer Walk and Talk Group,  2.00 pm to 4.00 pm, Thursday 26^th September is an opportunity to enjoy a great walk and share the company of fellow mental health carers. This month’s walk starts outside the Gibraltar Rock pub, Tynemouth and takes in some of the local beaches.

To attend this groups you must be registered with North Tyneside Carers’ Centre as a carer. This activity is only for carers of someone with a mental health condition. 

Places are limited and you need to book by ringing 0191 2496480 or email enquiries@ntcarers.co.uk

Caring for a family member or friend can entail a host of new things to understand and some stressful situations to cope with. The Carers’ Centre provides easy-to-digest information sessions covering dozens of topics that will help you.  

Here’s what’s coming up this month:

Tax, Care and Estate Planning, Thursday 5th September (1.30 pm to 3.00 pm), Wallsend Library

Adult Autism and Caring, Tuesday 10th September (1.00 pm to 3.30 pm)

North Shields Library

Understanding Anxiety & Depression, Wednesday 11th September (1.00 pm to 3.00 pm),

Whitley Bay Library

Getting Support in North Tyneside, Tuesday 17th September (1.00 pm to 3.00 pm), The White Swan Centre

Menopause Online, Wednesday 25th September (1.00 pm to 4.00 pm), Online Event - Microsoft Teams. Click here for the links to Menopause Online.

The Carers’ Centre is now hosting regular meetings for our volunteers and for people who are curious about volunteering. Volunteers are essential for supporting carer groups and activities. They are at the heart of the work of North Tyneside Carers' Centre.

The Volunteer Meeting will be held in Wallsend Library at 10.00 am to 11.30 am, Friday 6^th September and then on the first Friday of every month:

To attend call 0191 2496480 or

email enquiries@ntcarers.co.uk and state whether you are a current volunteer or interested in finding out more about volunteering. 

Meet at the VODA reception on the second floor of Wallsend Library, next to the Forum, Wallsend, NE28 8JR. 10.00 am to 11.30 am, Friday 6^th September

ANDYSMANCLUB has over 200 local support groups and is a growing and successful example of men supporting each other's mental health. 

In these groups, men can open up about the storms affecting their lives in a safe, judgement-free and non-clinical environment. The clubs are designed to be free of pressure, there is no obligation for men to speak, they can simply listen if they wish.

The nearest club meets every Monday at 7.00 pm in Wallsend Boys' Club, Kirkley Park, Rheydt Ave, Wallsend NE28 8SX. 

New attendees can turn up and walk through the door. Check the Wallsend group's Facebook page for more details.

North Tyneside Parent Carer Forum is opening a new project giving parent carers one-to-one support to discuss anything they want about SEND (special educational needs and disabilities).  

The sessions aim to bridge the much-needed support gap that many families have experienced in securing their children’s educational needs.

Support will be available Monday mornings, 9.30 am to 1.00 pm at John Willie Sams Centre, Dudley and the Oxford Centre, Longbenton.

Booked appointments take priority but parent carers can drop in and chat about any SEND questions they might have. Click here to book a support slot.

The legal right to 5 days of Carers Leave for working carers was introduced this year to enable time off work for caring responsibilities. It is hoped it will help carers stay in employment. 

A new report by Carers UK says it is not enough and argues for Carers Leave to be paid and make it practical for people on low incomes to afford this time away and not lose wages.

The report says paid Carers Leave would effectively help carers to stay in their jobs and boost the economy.

There is a good chance that some of the carers losing their Winter Fuel Allowance will once again receive the payment. How? Many carers are entitled to Pension Credit, a benefit that unlocks Winter Fuel Allowance but are not claiming it. A staggering 4 in 10 people entitled to the pension top-up miss out because they haven’t applied.

Depending on your income, the benefit could significantly boost your standard of living or provide a small amount of money. The good news is that by claiming Pension Credit you will automatically receive the Winter Fuel Payment.

The Pension Credit calculator can tell you if you are eligible and then apply straightaway. 

You can also call the Pension Credit claim line to apply: 0800 99 1234

MoneySavingExpert have an excellent guide to Pension Credit.  

Support in a mental health crisis can now be accessed by ringing NHS 111 and selecting option 2. The support is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The crisis service will still be provided by our local NHS mental health trusts.

When you call you will speak to a mental health advisor. They can transfer you to the crisis service if needed, offer self-care advice and signposting over the phone, or refer you to other local services.

The existing local freephone crisis service numbers will continue for the time being. For more information read this NHS article: