Low Cost Groups and Activities
There are numerous advantages for children engaging with extracurricular activities.
Activities can motivate children to exercise which can lower the risk of many conditions such as depression and obesity and increase the likelihood of a good sleeping pattern. Taking part in activities can help children develop social skills, provide opportunity for cooperation and peer interaction but also instil a sense of belonging.
A wide variety of extracurricular activities allows children to find their passion and talents. These can help children to develop a robust sense of self. In fact, improved self-esteem is one of the most highly reported benefits of extracurricular activities.
Both self-esteem and a sense of belong contribute to general benefits involving mental and psychosocial health. Children who participate in extracurricular activities demonstrate higher levels of satisfaction with life and optimism and lower levels of anxiety and depressive symptoms.
Finally, extracurricular activities help children develop positive habits that stead them well throughout their lives and contribute to their general health and wellbeing. These include: time-management skills, community involvement, development of structure and routine, persistence and follow-through.
Activities do not always need to be expensive. There are a wide range of low cost activities in the local area. This list is non exhaustive and further information can be found at Information Now for the Newcastle area.
Sea Cadets (Age 9 -18)
Website: Gosforth Sea Cadets
Location: Aln Cresent, Newcastle upon Tyne
On: 19:00 - 21:00 Tuesday (18:00-21:00 during boating season), 19:00 - 21:00 Friday
Telephone: 0191 284 3108
Email: sccgosforth@outlook.com
Apply online: https://www.sea-cadets.org/apply
Cost: All charges are very low and heavily subsidised.
Sea Cadets makes exploring the world and who you want to be safe and exciting
Sea Cadets is different from school. There's a lot of learning. But it's done through activities – on the water and off the water – and our volunteers leading by example.
It's also different from home, a break from screens and being cooped up inside. The platform we offer is built on the customs and traditions of the Royal Navy. It inspires our work and commitment to supporting young people today.
Air Cadets (Age 12-20)
Website: 1114 Gosforth Squadron
Location: RFCA Centre, Knightsbridge, Gosforth, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE3 2JJ
On: Mondays and Thursdays, 7:00pm to 9:30pm
Telephone: 0191 284 6582
Contact online: https://www.1114squadron.co.uk/contact
As a cadet you'll have the opportunity to do things that others only dream about. Want real flight experience? No problem. How about heading out on adventurous training and camps, sometimes overseas? Normal for cadets. Competitive sports, drill, shooting, music, abseiling, engineering projects? Our list of activities is long, varied and open to all cadets. Yes it's a challenge, but that's what life's all about.
Army Cadets (Age 12-17)
Website: Gosforth Army Cadets
Location: 59 Christon Rd, Gosforth, Newcastle upon Tyne NE3 1UL
On: Tuesday and Thursday: 1900-2100
Telephone: 01670 732323
Email: ne-nor-ao@rfca.org.uk
Contact online: https://armycadets.com/contact-us/
Cost: Thanks to the support of the Army we can keep the costs of being in the ACF very low. There will be costs for attending weekend training camps, annual camps and other activities, but we try to keep these as low as possible. Parade nights in detachments are free, but some detachments may request a small weekly subscription to go towards detachment events and visits.
Becoming an Army Cadet has heaps of benefits. The most obvious being that you get to take part in loads of exciting and challenging activities such as fieldcraft, adventure training, first aid, music, sports and shooting, to name but a few
Scouts (Age 10 ½ -14)
Website: Central Gosforth South Group
On: Friday evening during term time 7.45-9.30pm
Cost: £25 per term – introduction period – no cost involved
Gosforth (All Saints) Scout Troop
Address: All Saints Centre, Linden Road, Gosforth, Newcastle. NE3 4ES
Email: GosforthScouts.AllSaints@gmail.com
Leaders: Bob Shuttle and Jon Higgins
Gosforth (Montague) Scout Troop
Address: West Gosforth Scouts Hall, Brookvale Ave, Gosforth, NE3 4JX
Email: GosforthScouts.Montagu@gmail.com
Leaders: Lewis Rickard, Dona Skaife, Peter Griffith
A typical troop night involves: flag break, a game, some educational / informative session, followed by a second game and a final flag break to end the evening.
For the educational / informative session, we perform varied activities such as: map reading, bike maintenance, first aid, tying knots, arts and crafts etc. On occasion, we also invite guests from other organisations to explain who they are, what they do and how they help the local community.
In addition to troop nights, we also organise other exciting and adventurous activities such as camps, tall ship sailing, hikes, and cycle rides.
Curious Arts Queer Youth Music
Newcastle (11-15 year olds)
The group meets every third Saturday of the month at Dance City, Newcastle from 2pm-4pm.
Find out more here
Queer Youth Music (12-18 year olds)
The group meets weekly on Tuesday evenings at Dance City, Newcastle from 5:30pm-7:30pm (optional jam session until 8pm)
Find out more here
Visit https://curiousarts.org.uk/ to sign up.
Galafield Girls Youth Group & Galafield Junior Youth Group
2 Separate groups for girls aged 5-11 years and girls aged 11-16 years.
Our FREE sessions are a safe space for young people to come and socialise, learn about the world around them and take part in activities like;
- arts and crafts
- cooking
- gardening
- group games
- sports
The sessions are led by the young people, they choose what they would like to do in their youth clubs and plan their activities. Snacks and drinks are available in all sessions.
A registration form must be filled in for each young person.
Email: enquiries@inspireyouthtw.org
Telephone: 0191 264 1959
Galafield Non Binary and Trans Youth Group
Support group for Non Binary and Trans Youths
Email: kelly@projects4change.org
Telephone: 07946 314037
Gosforth Band at Archibald First School (Age 3-8)
Newcastle Music Service in partnership with Gosforth Academy Music Department and Gosforth Schools Trust are offering young people the opportunity to play and sing with other instrumentalists
This activity is for years 3-8.
Other age groups will be considered
Gosforth Basketball Club (Age 10-16)
Gosforth Basketball Club was established in September 2011 for children aged 10 – 16 and will compete in the Eagles Community Foundation Central Venue League.
Training (£2.50 per session) is every Monday as follows:
U16′s (16.30 – 18.00) U12′s & U14′s (18.00 – 19.00)
Please get in touch if you have any questions.
Email: s.hunter@eaglescommunityfoundation.com
Telephone: 0191 245 3881
Hang out and Dance
An inclusive group with opportunities to dance and to fly in aerial hammocks and on the trapeze.
In term time we meet monthly on Sunday afternoons at Dance City.
In holiday times we visit local outdoor venues for dance and circus days.
Cost: £5 - £8
Email: lynncam5@aol.com
Telephone: 07906854092
Hat-Trick Multi-Sports @ West Denton
Hat-Trick offers a variety of multi-sports delivered on estates in Newcastle upon Tyne. These include football, dodgeball, cricket, basketball, rugby, tennis and many more.
All sessions are free of charge and there is not referral required or waiting list.
This is a warm, caring and kind place to be because:
Email: keith.parsons@hattrickproject.org
Telephone: 0191 2424892
Junior Boxing Session (Age 5-14)
Sporting Chance empowers children and young people through sport and fitness to gain qualifications, achieve employment and improve social skills.
Our Community Boxing Club is a no pressure to compete club for 5-14 year olds.
It is free of charge and no need to book, however, please contact us via email or Facebook before the first session.
Telephone: 07500 807775
Email: Jamie@scne.org.uk
Website: Facebook Page
Kenton Juniors Youth Group (Age 5-11)
Our FREE junior sessions are a safe space for children aged between 5-11 years to come and socialise, play freely, learn about the world around them and take part in activities like;
- arts and crafts
- cooking
- gardening
- group games
- sports
The sessions are led by the children, they choose what they would like to do in their youth clubs and plan their activities. Snacks and drinks are available in all sessions.
Email: enquiries@inspireyouthtw.org
Telephone: 0191 264 1959
Kenton Youth Hub (Age 11-16)
This is an open access session for young people aged 11-16. The session is a safe and warm space for young people to engage in various activities such as games, arts and crafts and workshops.
Email: claire@neyouth.org.uk
Telephone: 0191 4990571
Laing Art Sessions (Age 10-15)
First Saturday of the month
£5 per person - book via Laing gallery learning@laingartgallery.org.uk
Email: lynncam5@aol.com
Telephone: 07906854092
Live Theatre (Age 10-25)
Young people aged 10 - 25 (school year 6 upwards) meet new friends, develop self-confidence and create original plays that reflect their views and opinions in weekly sessions delivered by some of the most exciting theatre makers in the region.
Live Youth Theatre meet weekly throughout the school year, starting in late September. Over three exciting terms young people will develop their skills in stage craft, develop a new play to perform on the stage and explore scripts that have been produced and performed here at Live Theatre.
Email: cypp@live.org.uk
Telephone: 0191 229 2371
Newcastle City Cricket Club (Age 7+)
Cricket club for adults and juniors from 7+ years old.
We are a warm and welcoming club who are always looking for new members. We provide two Saturday XI's playing in the Northumberland and Tyneside Cricket League. Our 3rd XI play midweek cricket in the Northumberland League C Division and we also boast one midweek team in the North East Mid-Week Cricket League.
Email: newcastlecitycc@gmail.com
St Marys Inters Youth Group & St Marys Juniors Youth Group - Fawdon (Age 11-13)
Our FREE inters sessions are a safe space for young people aged between 11-13 years to come and socialise, learn about the world around them and take part in activities like;
- arts and crafts
- cooking
- gardening
- group games
- sports
The sessions are led by the young people, they choose what they would like to do in their youth clubs and plan their activities. Snacks and drinks are available in all sessions.
A registration form must be filled in for each young person.
Email: enquiries@inspireyouthtw.org
Telephone: 0191 264 1959
Stepney Bank Stables (Age 8-18)
Equestrian and Activity Club providing opportunities for young people aged 8 to 18 to learn more about horses and take part in activities such as treasure hunts, workshops and trips. Membership is free and there are lots of opportunities to undertake more formal learning about horses too. Come along and make lots of friends and help look after our gorgeous horses and ponies.
Email: hello@stepneybank.co.uk
Telephone: 0191 2615544
Streetwise Drop Ins (Age 13-25)
Week days 3.30pm-5.30pm. New drop-ins are taking place at Streetwise Young People’s Project. All drop-Ins are open to young people aged 13 – 25 years old, with a variety of activities on each day, as well as free meals (Streetwise Bait Boxes).
These include drop ins on sexual health and relationships, gaming, art, music and more
Email: admin@streetwisenorth.org.uk
Telephone: 0191 2305400
Newcastle United Foundation - Junior Multi Sports Sessions
Monday, 4pm - 5pm: Indoor multi-sports
Tuesday, 4pm - 5pm: Indoor football
Tuesday, 4pm - 5pm: Gaming
Thursday, 4pm - 5pm: Indoor multi-sports
Friday, 4pm - 5pm: Indoor football
Friday, 4pm - 5pm: Gaming
Great Park Netball
Contact: Sarah Jane Cross
Email: Greatparknetballclub@gmail.com
Location: Gosforth High School
On: Mondays- U10/11 (6-7pm); U12+ (7-8pm)
NOVOS Netball
Contact: Tracey Milne
Email: Novossecretary@gmail.com
Location: Benfield Sports Centre
On: Mondays - U11/12 (5-6pm); U13/14/15 (6-7pm); U16/16+ (7-8pm)
Martial Arts clubs and classes
A range of martial arts classes in the local area.
Click here for further details.