A directory of trusted statutory, voluntary and specialist support organisations across the North East and nationally. If someone is in immediate danger, always call 999.
NESN provides information and signposting only. We do not investigate concerns, provide clinical or legal advice, or replace statutory and specialist services.
Safeguarding & Child Protection
If you believe a child is in immediate danger, call 999.
If you are concerned about a child but there is no immediate emergency, you can contact the appropriate local safeguarding service or the NSPCC Helpline for advice.
NESN provides information and signposting. We do not investigate safeguarding concerns or replace children's social care, the police, healthcare professionals or other statutory services.
Safeguarding & Child Protection
NSPCC
Advice and support for adults concerned about a child
The NSPCC provides advice and support for adults who are concerned about the safety or wellbeing of a child.
You can contact the NSPCC Helpline if you are worried about something that may be happening to a child, including concerns about abuse or neglect.
The NSPCC also provides safeguarding information, guidance and resources for parents, carers, volunteers, professionals and organisations.
Free, confidential support for children and young people
Childline provides free support to children and young people in the UK.
Young people can contact Childline to talk about anything that is worrying them, including abuse, bullying, mental health, relationships, online safety, grooming and other concerns.
Childline is designed to give young people a safe place to talk and seek support.
The Newcastle Safeguarding Children Partnership brings together organisations that work to keep children and young people in Newcastle safe from abuse and neglect.
The Partnership provides local safeguarding information, policies, procedures, training and learning resources.
If you are concerned about the safety or wellbeing of a child or young person in Newcastle, the local authority provides routes for reporting concerns.
Children's Social Care (office hours): 0191 277 2500
Abuse and exploitation can take many forms. Children, young people and vulnerable adults may be targeted through relationships, social media, organised crime, financial manipulation, coercion, violence or other forms of control.
Exploitation is not always obvious. Someone may appear to be making their own choices while actually being controlled, manipulated, threatened or groomed.
NESN's role is to help communities recognise potential concerns, understand appropriate reporting routes and connect people with specialist support.
Child Exploitation
Child Criminal Exploitation & County Lines
Children are victims of exploitation — not perpetrators of their own abuse
Child criminal exploitation occurs when children or young people are manipulated, coerced, controlled or deceived into criminal activity for the benefit of others.
County lines is one form of criminal exploitation and can involve children and young people being used to transport drugs or money, sometimes across different areas.
These signs do not automatically mean that someone is being exploited. They should, however, be considered alongside other information and treated as potential safeguarding concerns.
If a young person is in immediate danger, call 999.
Child Sexual Exploitation
Child Sexual Exploitation
Recognising grooming and sexual exploitation
Child sexual exploitation involves a child or young person being sexually exploited by another person or people.
Grooming can happen online or in person and may involve someone building trust or a relationship with a child before manipulating, controlling or exploiting them.
A child may not recognise that they are being exploited or may feel responsible for what is happening. No single sign proves that exploitation is taking place. If you are concerned about a child, seek appropriate safeguarding advice rather than attempting to investigate the situation yourself.
Potential indicators can include:
Significant changes in behaviour
Secretive relationships or online activity
Unexplained gifts, money or possessions
Older individuals becoming involved in the child's life
Going missing or staying away from home
Increased vulnerability or isolation
Sexualised behaviour that is inappropriate for the child's age
Modern slavery and human trafficking can affect children, young people and adults. Exploitation can include forced labour, criminal exploitation, sexual exploitation and other forms of abuse or control.
A person may be exploited without being physically restrained. Coercion, threats, deception, manipulation and abuse of vulnerability can all be used to control someone.
If you are concerned that someone may be experiencing modern slavery or exploitation, specialist advice is available through the Modern Slavery & Exploitation Helpline, operated by Unseen.
Modern Slavery & Exploitation Helpline: 08000 121 700
A child or young person going missing may be experiencing vulnerability, abuse, exploitation or other difficulties.
Missing episodes should not automatically be viewed as simply behavioural issues. They can sometimes be connected to exploitation, grooming, unsafe relationships or other safeguarding concerns.
For specialist support and advice relating to missing children and young people, Missing People provides support to missing people and their families.
Criminal exploitation can include manipulating children and young people into allowing others to use their bank accounts, receiving or transferring money, committing fraud or participating in other financial crime.
Financial exploitation should be treated as a safeguarding concern.
Potential indicators can include:
Unexplained payments or transfers
Cash deposits from unknown sources
Someone else having access to a young person's bank account
Offers of quick money or unusual employment opportunities
Being asked to receive or transfer money for someone else
Becoming involved in financial activity they do not understand
People can experience difficulties with their mental health, housing, relationships, bereavement, substance use or other circumstances at different points in their lives.
Sometimes these difficulties can also increase vulnerability to abuse, exploitation, homelessness or other safeguarding concerns.
NESN's role is to help people identify appropriate sources of support and connect with organisations that can provide specialist help.
Mental Health & Urgent Support
NHS 111 — Mental Health Support
Urgent mental health support
NHS 111 can provide urgent advice and help for both physical and mental health needs, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
If you need urgent mental health help but it is not an immediate emergency, NHS 111 can help identify the appropriate service.
Support for people affected by grief and bereavement
Bereavement can affect people in many different ways, and there is no single way to experience grief.
Cruse Bereavement Support provides emotional support to people across the UK who are affected by bereavement, including local one-to-one and group support in many areas.
FRANK provides information, advice and support relating to drugs and drug use, including a service finder for local and national support services in England.
If someone needs urgent medical help after taking drugs or drinking, call 999 and tell the emergency services what has been taken, if known.
Alcohol Support
Drinkaware
Information and support relating to alcohol
Drinkaware provides information and advice for people concerned about their own drinking or someone else's.
Its Alcohol Support Service Finder can help people find local, free and confidential alcohol support services across the UK. Drinkaware also provides an online Drinkchat service with trained advisers.
Housing insecurity can significantly affect a person's safety, wellbeing and vulnerability.
Shelter provides housing advice and support in England for people who are homeless, at risk of homelessness or experiencing housing problems. Housing law and support arrangements differ across the UK.
Connecting people sleeping rough with local support
If someone is sleeping rough in England or Wales, StreetLink can help connect them with local outreach services.
StreetLink does not provide accommodation itself. It passes information to the relevant local authority or outreach service so that they can assess the person's situation and offer appropriate support.
