Supporting Parent Carers
Gateshead Parent Carer Forum (PCF) is a dedicated volunteer-led group made up of parents and carers of children and young people with disabilities and a wide range of special educational needs (SEND) living across the Gateshead borough.
Our mission is to support families in our community by creating welcoming spaces where parents and carers can connect, share experiences, and access valuable information. We do this through relaxed drop-in coffee mornings, informative sessions with guest speakers, and practical training events.
According to the SEN Code of Practice (2015), parent carer forums are “representative groups of parents and carers of children and young people with disabilities who work alongside Local Authorities, Education, Health and other service providers to ensure that the services they plan, commission, deliver and monitor meet the needs of children and families.”
At Gateshead PCF, our steering group of parent and carer volunteers actively listens to the wider community to understand what’s working well, what could be improved, and where service gaps exist. We then work strategically with the local authority to help shape and enhance services, ensuring the needs of children and young people aged 0–25 are met.
We are committed to empowering local families by sharing knowledge, offering guidance, signposting and peer support. By coming together as a united voice, we ensure that children and families are placed at the heart of service planning, delivery, and review—and that their voices are truly heard.
Your Voice Matters for SEND Families
At the heart of our community, we Gateshead Parent Carer Forum bring together parents and carers of children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) across Gateshead. We offer drop-in coffee mornings, speaker-events and training in a relaxed, welcoming space, so you don’t journey this path alone.
We also ensure that local services hear and act on your experiences by gathering your feedback and working with education, health and social-care professionals. By becoming a member you’ll be first to hear about consultations, events and opportunities to influence support for your family. Together, we can shape stronger, more inclusive services and communities for everyone.
Regular Events
Coffee Mornings
Our Coffee Mornings take place on the third Wednesday of every month, from 9.30am to 11.30am, at the Metrocentre Community Hub (upstairs beside Boots, opposite Next).
We take a break from Coffee Mornings in June, August and December, as we run alternative events during those months.
Kids’ Events
We run a variety of events for SEND children throughout the year, including a summer soft play party, sensory theatre sessions, a teen party, and a Christmas soft play party. All event dates will be shared on our website blog and Facebook page. Please register as a member to access free tickets.
Carers Week
Each year during Carers Week, we host a special event for parent carers in Gateshead. Therapists from Gateshead College join us to offer a range of relaxing treatments, and we put on a delicious buffet for everyone to enjoy. It’s a lovely chance to unwind and spend time with other parent carers in the community.
United Through Support
Over 1,000 parent-carers in our Gateshead network have registered with us — creating a powerful, empathetic community where you’re never alone. Through peer support, shared advice, and real-life experiences, members uplift one another daily. Whether you’re navigating new diagnoses, funding challenges or school transitions, our collective strength helps make every step a little easier.
Members are now enjoying the support from other carers in Gateshead.
We offer Peer Support sessions every Tuesday and Thursday during term time, running from 9.30am to 11.30am. These sessions are appointment‑only to make sure each family gets the time and space they need. All appointments take place at the Blaydon Winlaton Family Hub, where you’ll find a welcoming environment and support from people who understand the challenges parent carers face.
We hold a variety of training events throughout the year to support parent carers. These sessions are designed to build confidence, strengthen knowledge, and offer practical guidance on navigating the SEND system. One of our key opportunities includes IPSEA Law training, which helps parent carers understand their legal rights and how to advocate effectively for their children. We continue to expand our training programme so families in our community feel informed, empowered, and supported.
As a parent carer forum, we do our best to support families. If there’s ever something we’re not able to help with ourselves, we work closely with a wide range of organisations and services and we’re always happy to signpost you to the right support.
Become a Member
If you are a parent to a child with additional needs in Gateshead (age 0-25 years), then you are entitled to become a member of Gateshead Parent Carer Forum for free. Membership of Gateshead Parent Carer Forum is open to all parents and carers of children and young people with SEND aged 0 to 25. Your child doesn’t need to have a diagnosis, and membership is completely free.
Being a member of Gateshead Parent Carer Forum doesn’t involve any commitment of your time, you can be as active or otherwise as is suitable for you. If you just want to receive our emails, that’s Absolutely fine!
If you would like to be a member of Gateshead Parent Carer Forum, please look at our register page!
Register today and connect with other supportive parent carers
