North East Support Groups

We have been informed about the following list of current support groups. Please do ring the named contact if you wish to confirm details including meeting hours. Please note that unless a named Family Rights Group contact is provided, the groups and organisations listed below are run independently of Family Rights Group and we are not responsible for their activities.

Family Rights has published a guide on good practice in setting up local kinship care support groups. Please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for a copy. If you wish to attend a group, rather than set one up, you may still find the guide useful.

Organisation	ESCAPE Family Support
Contact name	Lyndsey Hedley
Contact Telephone number	01670 352700
Contact Web address	www.escapefamilysupport.org.uk
Contact email	This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Who is the group for?	All Kinship Carers
Where does the group meet?	ESCAPE Family Support offices, Blyth
Who runs the group?	The groups are supported by members of the family support team but steered by the carers themselves
How often does the group meet?	The Kinship Group meets bi-monthly

Organisation	Kinship Carers Group
Contact name	Sarah Dugdale – (Outreach Family support worker)
Contact Telephone number	0191 4244840
Contact email	This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Who is the group for?	This group is for all extended family members who look after children who are not their own on a permanent or temporary basis
Where does the group meet?	South Shields
Who runs the group?	This group was set up and is ran independently by its members
How often does the group meet?	1st Friday of every month 1-3pm

Organisation	Middlesbrough Kinship Support Group
Contact name	Mari Dilworth
Contact Telephone number	079 3115 8313
Contact email	This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Who is the group for?	The group is for all Kinship Carers
Where does the group meet?	Easterside Community Hub, Easterside Middlesbrough
Who runs the group?	Kinship Carers supported by facilitator from the Relative Experience Project
How often does the group meet?	The Kinship Group meets weekly 9.30-10.45 Drop-In 11am-12.45 Support Group

Organisation	More than Grandparents (Sunderland)
Contact name	Mel Nichols (Chair)
Contact Telephone number	07501 191 338
Who is the group for?	The More than Grandparents group is a support group ran for and by kinship carers offering support, guidance and friendship to all kinship carers and their children
Where does the group meet?	Sunderland
How often does the group meet?	Every Thursday from 12.30 til 2.30 at Hopespring, 53 St. Lukes Terrace, Sunderland, Tyne and Wear, SR4 6NF, for a cuppa and a chat. Children are welcome and we have access to a free soft play area and a sensory play room.

Organisation	Newcastle Props Grandparents Support Group
Contact name	Margi Simpson
Contact Telephonenumber	0191 2263440
Contact email	This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Who is the group for?	All family and friends carers
Where does the group meet?	Newcastle upon Tyne
Who runs the group?	Newcastle Props
How often does the group meet?	Fortnightly

Organisation	North Tyneside Kinship Carers Group
Contact name	Pam Purvis
Contact Telephone number	07917 500 590
Contact email	This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Who is the group for?	The group is for all Kinship Carers
Where does the group meet?	North Shields
Who runs the group?	The group is run by members but supported by North Tyneside Childrens Services
How often does the group meet?	First Thursday of every month 9.30am – 11.30am

General

Explore

Get Involved

Contact Us