Chowdene Family Hub

What's on offer

Our Chowdene Family Hub offers a full programme of activities for all ages from birth onwards. Where booking is essential please call 0191 433 5052 to book a place. For further information about anything on offer at Chowdene Family Hub email familyhubs@gateshead.gov.uk.

Term Time activities

Monday

Childminders Group 

A group for childminders to come together to share childminding experiences and support each other while the children play in a safe and stimulating environment. Suitable for birth to 5 years.

9.30 to 11am

Little Ballers 

The UK's first Basketball specific play programme for children aged 6 months to 7 years. For further information on start dates and prices please look on our Facebook/Instagram or email info@littleballers.org.uk

9.30 to 10.15am

Baby Time

Baby Time provides an opportunity for parents/carers to spend quality time with their baby. Experienced staff are on hand to offer advice and support to parents/carers and facilitate music, rhymes and sensory play. Suitable for birth to 1 years. Booking is essential.

9.30 to 11am

Baby Movers

Relaxed and friendly classes where babies and adults socialise and meet new friends. We sing, dance and play and have lots of fun and laughter. Suitable from birth to crawling. For further information on start dates and prices please contact Donna gatesheadCE@littlemovers.net

12.45 to 1.30pm

Sensory Room

Sensory rooms provide a safe place for children to play while supporting the development of their senses. Our sensory rooms are equipped with music, lighting and specialist equipment. The cost is £1 per child per one hour session. Suitable for birth to 5 years. Booking is essential.

1 to 4pm

Infant Massage

Learn massage techniques and strengthen the bond between baby and parent. The course promotes bonding, attachment, early communication and emotional wellbeing for both parent and infant. Massage is often said to help with relaxation, sleep, digestive issues, constipation, wind and colic. Infant Massage incorporates massage techniques for different stages of development. Suitable for 8 weeks to 1 year. Booking is essential.

1.30 to 2.30pm

Little Movers

Little Movers is an award winning, exciting dance and movement programme for children under school age. Suitable from walking to 5 years. For further information on start dates and prices please contact Donna gatesheadCE@littlemovers.net

1.45 to 2.30pm

Tuesday

Sensory Room 

Sensory rooms provide a safe place for children to play while supporting the development of their senses. Our sensory rooms are equipped with music, lighting and specialist equipment. The cost is £1 per child per one hour session.  Suitable for birth to 5 years. Booking is essential.

1pm-4pm

Play Time

Come along to our play time sessions and have a cuppa & biscuits, watch your children have fun, using their imagination whilst playing with toys and being creative.

9.30am-2.30pm (term time only) suitable from 0 to 5years

Kalma Life - Toddler Yoga

Our Kalma Toddler Yoga sessions are the building blocks of creating confident and creative yogis.  It can help to build resilience and immunity with lots of multi sensory fun for busy and energetic toddlers.  During a typical class children can learn new yoga stretches from downward dogs to handstands as well as a high degree of fitness and developmental activities.  Often a group activity is a focus with a prop or a story during sessions.  We keep the same approach as all other Kalma baby yoga classes with music songs and props and they are structured in the same way with 45 minutes of yoga, and relaxation at the end. To book please contact Emma Bell 07581359585 or emma@gatesheadwest.kalmalifeuk.co.uk 

9:30-10:15 (03/02/25- 23/02/25 3 weeks only)

Kalma Life - Baby Yoga

We offer a relaxed but fun environment where classes are delivered using yoga inspired stretches.  Classes are structured to offer 45 minutes of yoga as well as some lovely relaxation at the end which is always well earned! In a typical session baby and parents will be introduced to music, song and rhyme along with lots of sensory props.  There are stretches for mum during sessions, and together stretches but primarily we focus on the infants. To book please contact Emma Bell 07581359585 or emma@gatesheadwest.kalmalifeuk.co.uk 

10:30-11:15 (03/02/25- 23/02/25 3 weeks only)

Kalma Life - Baby Massage

Suitable from 6 weeks - 6 months.  The language of love through touch.  It is truly a lovely bonding experience for parent and child giving the chance to learn the art of touch and speak your baby's language.  Our award winning classes teach parents techniques to aid in the relief of common infant ailments such as sleeplessness, colic, constipation and digestion in a safe and stimulating environment.

Sessions show the correct use of massage to develop circulatory and breathing rhythms and introduce easy tummy time for older babies.  Develop your baby's muscle strength and flexibility while you learn the correct way to introduce and help aid sitting and standing.  You will learn the correct oils to use for massage and learn easy massage sequences including singing, playing, kissing and talking.  (One bottle of massage oil is included with the cost of your booking).

To book please contact Emma Bell 07581359585 or emma@gatesheadwest.kalmalifeuk.co.uk 

11:45-12:30 (03/02/25- 23/02/25 3 weeks only)

Creative Time for Dads 

Lots of take-home creative crafts for children age 2 years to pre school. Booking is essential.

3.30-4.30

Wednesday 

 Parent and Toddler group

Volunteer led parent and toddler groups provide an opportunity for parents/carers to spend quality time with their toddlers alongside other parents/carers and toddlers. This session includes songs, stories, rhymes, crafts and messy play. No booking required. Suitable from birth to 5 years. £1 per child.

9.30 to 11am

Bloom Baby's Busy Bees (6 months to 15 months)

A fun, lively musical baby development class encouraging fine and gross motor skills, body awareness, early language acquisition, rhythm and tempo. Building on the gentle activities of Caterpillar Club, this session uses instruments, dancing, clicking sticks, Makaton and more to encourage your baby's all round development. Bookings can be made via the Bloom baby classes website (opens new window)

9.45 to 10.30am

Bloom Baby's Caterpillar Club (6 weeks to 6 months) 

A gentle baby development class with a focus on encouraging bonding with your little one. Our Caterpillar class awakens baby's first senses and stimulates in a fun, yet soothing way, using bubbles, parachutes, lights, songs, pom-poms, tummy time and baby development moves, ending the class with a relaxing massage for baby to help them drift into a long nap. Bookings can be made via the Bloom baby classes website (opens new window)

11 to11.45am 

Sensory Room 

Sensory rooms provide a safe place for children to play while supporting the development of their senses. Our sensory rooms are equipped with music, lighting and specialist equipment. The cost is £1 per child per one hour session.  Suitable for birth to 5 years. Booking is essential.

1pm-4pm

Intergenerational Group at Angel Court

Provides an opportunity for children and their parents/carers and the elderly residents to enjoy some social time. The sessions include crafts, songs, stories.

2-3pm

Thursday

Sensory Room 

Sensory rooms provide a safe place for children to play while supporting the development of their senses. Our sensory rooms are equipped with music, lighting and specialist equipment. The cost is £1 per child per one hour session. Suitable for birth to 5 years. Booking is essential.

9am to 4pm (closed for Lunch 12 to 1pm)

Active Totz

Bikes and Trikes drop-in. The session includes 30 minutes of physical activity followed by 60 minutes of bikes and trikes.  The activities are designed to help children develop balance, coordination, spatial awareness and physical skills.  The class is suitable for walking to pre-school.  There is a £1.00 charge for this class.

9.30am-11am 

Toddler Time

Toddler Time provides an opportunity for parents/carers to spend quality time with their toddlers. The sessions include songs, stories, rhymes, crafts and messy play. Activities delivered across the term help to support children's physical, social and emotional development as well as communication and language skills. Suitable from walking. No booking required. 

1.30 to 3pm 

Friday

Sensory Room 

Sensory rooms provide a safe place for children to play while supporting the development of their senses. Our sensory rooms are equipped with music, lighting and specialist equipment. The cost is £1 per child per one hour session. Suitable for birth to 5 years. Booking is essential.

11am to 12pm and 3 to 4pm

Health and Wellbeing Clinic and Stay & Play 

Health advice including breastfeeding, hygiene, weaning, nutrition and safety. Suitable for birth to 19 years. Appointments only, to book please contact 03000 031918, email Spoc.hdftgateshead@nhs.net or message via Facebook, Growing Healthy 0-19 Gateshead.

Stay and play is available alongside the health and wellbeing clinic appointments. Experienced staff are on hand offering parenting advice and support. Suitable from birth to 5 years.

9.30am to 11am

Infant Feeding Friends Drop In

Infant feeding champion available for support while enjoying the Sensory Room here at Chowdene. Suitable from birth to 5 years. No booking required.

9.30 to 11am

Baby Time

Baby Time provides an opportunity for parents/carers to spend quality time with their baby. Experienced staff are on hand to offer advice and support to parents/carers and facilitate music, rhymes and sensory play. Suitable for birth to 1 years. Booking is essential.

1.30 to 3pm

Other Activities at Chowdene Family Hub

Saturday Club

For children with special educational needs and disabilities who are referred by the Disabled Childrens Team. Offering respite, social opportunities, physical activity and sensory play.

Autism Information Hub

The Autism Information Hub is available to anyone with an interest in autism - parents/carers/family members, professionals, practitioners, or individuals with autism, with or without a diagnosis. For more details visit the Gateshead Autism Hubs website. 

Baby and Child Lifesaving

Free 1 hour session covering CPR, Drowning and Choking for babies and children. Booking essential

Tuesday 12th November 9.30 (part of tea and toast session)

Tuesday 26th November 9.30 (part of tea and toast session)

Child Development Team 

The Child Development Team offer a multi-disciplinary assessment service for pre-school children with a variety of additional needs, for example where there are concerns regarding Autism Spectrum Disorder, where children have physical difficulties such as Cerebral Palsy or where children have a known diagnosis associated with developmental difficulties such as Down's Syndrome.

Family Group Conferencing

Family Group Conferencing offer families the opportunity to meet in a safe and neutral environment to discuss and agree a future focused plans for their children and families.

Holiday activities

A range of holiday activities for children of all ages. For details of holiday activities visit Brighten the Day.

Music Service 

Gateshead Schools' Music Service helps schools to provide high quality music experiences for young people. These include the opportunity to sing, play musical instruments and contribute to outstanding choral and ensemble performances.

Parenting Programmes

Being a parent can be tough. These group programmes are aimed at improving family relationships.

Portage Group

The Gateshead Portage Service works closely with multi-agency partners to deliver group work for babies, children and their families which can be accessed following discussions with Portage staff.

Toy Library

The Toy Library works just like a normal library. We have hundreds of high quality toys ranging from sensory toys and activity centres for babies, role play for toddlers to outdoor activities for older children. 

2nd Home Childcare 

2nd Home Childcare provide government funded and private early years care and education for children aged 0-5 years, from 7.30am to 5.30pm. For further information, please contact chowdene@2ndhomechildcare.co.uk or call 0191 487 9247.