Public Health - Children and Young People

Part of the council's public health responsibility is to commission (specify and buy) a range of services to support the health and wellbeing of children and young people in the city. The council works with partners - particularly the NHS - to ensure that services work closely together.

Healthy Child Programme

The main commissioned service is for children aged 0-19 years. It works with families through pregnancy, birth and up to the age of 19.  This service is commissioned from Newcastle Hospitals Foundation Trust (NUTH). Information and advice support is available on a range of issues including healthy pregnancy, breastfeeding, growth and development and mental health.  Every child and young person in the city has a named health visitor or school nurse.

Early Years

Public health work with a wide range of partner organisations to make sure that babies and young children have the best start in life.  The  Start4Life website  provides reliable advice to support families during pregnancy, birth and childhood. 

Healthy Schools

'Healthier children do better in learning and in life’

The Newcastle Healthy Schools programme supports schools to encourage children and young people to lead healthy lives. Schools can help their pupils to develop good habits and attitudes from an early age, such as eating fruit and vegetables, being physically active and supporting them emotionally. 

You’re Welcome

You’re Welcome is an accreditation scheme that helps to improve health and youth services for young people aged 11 to 19. This helps young people stay healthy as they are more likely to visit health services that can help and support them.

Children and Young People's Mental Health

Supporting children and young people’s emotional health and wellbeing is a key priority and many services support children and young people in relation to this.  Health visitors and school nurses can offer initial advice and support and further information is available from the Children and Young People's Service which is provided by Northumberland, Tyne and Wear Mental Health Trust (NTW).

UNICEF Child Friendly City

Newcastle is the first city in England to be working towards become a Unicef Child Friendly City .  The programme is about supporting and valuing all children to flourish and helping them engage with their communities. Over the next three to five years Newcastle City Council, delivery partners and Unicef UK will work together.  They will look at issues that children, young people, families and professionals feel are important.  These include being safe and secure, being healthy and being equal and included.