Useful Information for parents in Newcastle, UK

Here’s a list of some useful websites for families living Newcastle upon Tyne. Some of these websites may also be useful to parents living more broadly in and around the North East of England.

Netmums (Newcastle) - parenting advice and local listings:

http://www.netmums.com/local//newcastle

The Little Pages - free magazine for parents in the North East and Yorkshire listings events and activities for families:

http://the-little-pages.co.uk/

Sure Start Centres (Newcastle):

http://www.surestartnewcastlecc.org.uk/site

Baby Dines Out (North East) - child and baby friendly restaurant reviews and advice:

http://www.babydinesout.com/location/the-north-east

Newcastle Children’s Information Service:

http://www.newcastle.gov.uk/core.nsf/a/childrensinformationservice

Families Recommend - reviews of family friendly days out in the North East (including some useful reviews for families with special or additional needs):

http://www.familiesrecommend.co.uk/things-to-do-north-east

Newcastle Toy and Leisure Library - supporting children with disabilities:

http://ntll.co.uk/

Family learning courses in Newcastle - including courses on crafts, sports, literacy, numeracy, budgeting and ESOL:

http://www.newcastle.gov.uk/core.nsf/a/familylearning

What’s On North East - up-to-date events and activities listings:

http://www.whatsonnortheast.com/listings

Kids Days Out (Tyne and Wear) - events and activities listings for the family:

http://www.kidsdaysout.co.uk/tyne_and_wear.htm

**More useful websites for parents in the UK, and specifically in the North East, can be found here:

http://polishfamiliesnewcastle.blogspot.com/p/about-my-family.html

Polish Restaurants in the North East of England

Here are names, addresses and opening hours of Polish restaurants / takeaways in the North East of England. Sadly I’ve only found two listings, so please feel free to email me with details of other Polish restaurants / takeaways in the region. This information has been requested by several people eager to try Polish food in the North East.


The Gospoda
Upper Level,
Princess Square,
Newcastle upon Tyne.
NE1 8ER
Tel: 0191 261 0197

Opening Hours: 7 days a week, Mon - Thurs 12 noon - (last orders taken) 9.00pm, Fri - Sat 12 noon - (last orders taken) 10.00pm and Sun 12 noon - (last orders taken) 7.00pm


Website: http://thegospoda.com

Serving a range of traditional Polish dishes including pancakes, soups, Polish sausages, bigos, goulash and sauerkraut salad. A range of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages available, including teas, coffees and homemade cakes and pastries. Vegetarian options available.

Pierogi Place
34 Pilgrim Street,
Newcastle upon Tyne.
NE1 6SE
Tel: 0191 232 3332

Opening Hours: 7 days a week, Mon - Thurs 7.30am - 9.30pm, Fri 7.30am - 11.00pm, Sat 10.30am - 11.00am and Sun 11.30am - 7.00pm

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pierogiplace
Website: http://pierogiplace.co.uk/

Serving eat-in or take-out Polish inspired foods, such as bigos Hunter’s stew and pierogi dumplings with a choice of sweet and savoury fillings. Also serves Faitrade coffee. Vegetarian options available.

Please do support local business here in the North East of England. Here's a link to my blog about Polish shops in this region: http://polishfamiliesnewcastle.blogspot.com/2010/11/polish-shops-in-north-east-of-england.html

North East Places

When I first began the ethnographic photography stage of my research I planned to concentrate solely on Polish identity in the city of Newcastle. As the interview stage of my research unfolded it became clear that although there is a significant Polish population resident in Newcastle, Polish families live far and wide across the North East of England and something that especially interested me after meeting these families was how Polish migrants have adapted to living in the North East’s former mining towns, in seaside resorts and rural villages. I began to feel that a study on the North East region might be more useful that one on the city of Newcastle alone.

Moreover, in the early stages of my ethnographic fieldwork I made the mistake of looking for expressions of Polishness in isolation. As you can see by my blog about research findings, sometimes my fieldtrips would seem very fruitless (http://polishfamiliesnewcastle.blogspot.com/2010/03/research-findings-polish-newcastle.html). I soon realised that I was missing the wider context of ‘identity’ in the North East in that it would be interesting to see how Polish identity might sit alongside or overlap other migrant identities and cultural identities in the region.

Here’s a complete list of all the places I covered during my ethnographic fieldwork and links to the research findings they yielded:

County Durham:
Durham

http://www.flickr.com/photos/identityinnewcastle/sets/72157625136580006

Gateshead:
Bensham

http://www.flickr.com/photos/identityinnewcastle/sets/72157625318497608

Blaydon

http://www.flickr.com/photos/identityinnewcastle/sets/72157625232034925

Felling

http://www.flickr.com/photos/identityinnewcastle/sets/72157625143585399

Gateshead

http://www.flickr.com/photos/identityinnewcastle/sets/72157625158932334

Low Fell

http://www.flickr.com/photos/identityinnewcastle/sets/72157625318494690

Whickham

http://www.flickr.com/photos/identityinnewcastle/sets/72157625232034925

Newcastle:
Arthur’s Hill

http://www.flickr.com/photos/identityinnewcastle/sets/72157625653765081

Benton

http://www.flickr.com/photos/identityinnewcastle/sets/72157625031673573

Benwell

http://www.flickr.com/photos/identityinnewcastle/sets/72157624287630210

Bigg Market

http://www.flickr.com/photos/identityinnewcastle/sets/72157625062698438

Blakelaw

http://www.flickr.com/photos/identityinnewcastle/sets/72157624426905199

Byker

http://www.flickr.com/photos/identityinnewcastle/sets/72157624459617658

Chinatown

http://www.flickr.com/photos/identityinnewcastle/sets/72157625144628282

City Centre

http://www.flickr.com/photos/identityinnewcastle/sets/72157624287680082

Cruddus Park

http://www.flickr.com/photos/identityinnewcastle/sets/72157624287602622

Denton Burn

http://www.flickr.com/photos/identityinnewcastle/sets/72157624961641364

Elswick

http://www.flickr.com/photos/identityinnewcastle/sets/72157624287626642

Fawdon

http://www.flickr.com/photos/identityinnewcastle/sets/72157625799627726

Fenham

http://www.flickr.com/photos/identityinnewcastle/sets/72157625779308740

Forest Hall

http://www.flickr.com/photos/identityinnewcastle/sets/72157625031673573

Gosforth

http://www.flickr.com/photos/identityinnewcastle/sets/72157624551610658

Groat Market

http://www.flickr.com/photos/identityinnewcastle/sets/72157624988919091

Heaton

http://www.flickr.com/photos/identityinnewcastle/sets/72157624162997163

High Heaton

http://www.flickr.com/photos/identityinnewcastle/sets/72157624581374968

Jesmond

http://www.flickr.com/photos/identityinnewcastle/sets/72157624800653046

Newbiggin Hall

http://www.flickr.com/photos/identityinnewcastle/sets/72157624551616922

Ouseburn Valley

http://www.flickr.com/photos/identityinnewcastle/sets/72157625621198933

Red House Farm

http://www.flickr.com/photos/identityinnewcastle/sets/72157625799627726

Sandyford

http://www.flickr.com/photos/identityinnewcastle/sets/72157624676277727

Scotswood

http://www.flickr.com/photos/identityinnewcastle/sets/72157624942716172

Shieldfield

http://www.flickr.com/photos/identityinnewcastle/sets/72157624800646944

South Gosforth

http://www.flickr.com/photos/identityinnewcastle/sets/72157624581374968

Walker

http://www.flickr.com/photos/identityinnewcastle/sets/72157624163035963

Wallsend

http://www.flickr.com/photos/identityinnewcastle/sets/72157624163068897

Westerhope

http://www.flickr.com/photos/identityinnewcastle/sets/72157624551616922

Westgate Hill

http://www.flickr.com/photos/identityinnewcastle/sets/72157625772073594

West Denton

http://www.flickr.com/photos/identityinnewcastle/sets/72157624961641364

West Moor

http://www.flickr.com/photos/identityinnewcastle/sets/72157625031673573

Northumberland:
Blyth

http://www.flickr.com/photos/identityinnewcastle/sets/72157624515947989

Morpeth

http://www.flickr.com/photos/identityinnewcastle/sets/72157624963380767

Wylam

http://www.flickr.com/photos/identityinnewcastle/sets/72157624818049161

North Tyneside:
North Shields

http://www.flickr.com/photos/identityinnewcastle/sets/72157625232028833

Tynemouth

http://www.flickr.com/photos/identityinnewcastle/sets/72157624961938504

Whitley Bay

http://www.flickr.com/photos/identityinnewcastle/sets/72157624822359821

South Tyneside:
Hebburn

http://www.flickr.com/photos/identityinnewcastle/sets/72157625799099804

Jarrow

http://www.flickr.com/photos/identityinnewcastle/sets/72157625673461415

Pelaw

http://www.flickr.com/photos/identityinnewcastle/sets/72157625799099804

South Shields

http://www.flickr.com/photos/identityinnewcastle/sets/72157625799090736

Sunderland:
Roker

http://www.flickr.com/photos/identityinnewcastle/sets/72157624837037365

Sunderland

http://www.flickr.com/photos/identityinnewcastle/sets/72157624961940814

To view the entire ‘North East Places’ collection please go here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/identityinnewcastle/collections/72157624287694582

Information for Parents in the North East

Something I’m learning from my research interviews with Polish parents is that it’s not always easy to find information about what’s on in this region. Nie zawsze łatwo znaleźć informacje na temat rodziny działań. Tutaj kilka pomysłow:


Where can I get information about what’s on for families in the North East?
Gdzie znaleźć informacja na temat rodziny działań w północno-wschodniej?

Netmums -
This is a great website for finding out about local classes / activities / children’s toys and clothes sales and for obtaining advice and making friends with local parents online. http://www.netmums.com/local//newcastle
Netmums- strona o lokalnych zajęcia dla rodziców / działalność rodzina / dzieci zabawki I ubrania sprzedaży i porady dla rodziców.

Get Your Tots Out -
This is a free guide for parents in the North East listing classes such as baby yoga and massage and good days out, such as Blue Reef Aquarium in Tynemouth and Bill Quay Farm. It’s written by local parents and has some good advice for everyone about parenting in this region. The authors also tell you how accessible the venues are for prams and buggies.
http://www.newcastlegateshead.com/2407/Get_Your_Tots_Out.html
Get Your Tots Out- Bezpłatne broszury dla rodziców w północno-wschodniej, informacje na temat zajęć, takich jak joga i masażu dla niemowląt, i miejsc do odwiedzenia.

The Little Pages -
A free guide to parents which you can pick up in hardcopy at most local libraries. It lists support groups, arts and craft classes, childcare and toddler groups, music and dance groups and softplay venues in this area. This directory also includes a calendar of local one off family events in the North East such as fetes and festivals, exhibitions and picnics.
http://www.the-little-pages.co.uk/
The Little Pages - Bezpłatne broszury na temat grup wsparcia, sztuka i klasy rzemiosła, opieki nad dziećmi i grup dla małych dzieci, muzyki i tańca i miejsc ‘softplay’ w północno-wschodniej.

Sure Start Centres –
These centres are a government funded provision currently available to all parents in the UK which aims to provide health advice, parenting and family support, play sessions and information on local childcare options, and links to services and training support for parents and carers.

In this area Sure Start Centres can be found in the following areas: Ouseburn, South Heaton, Walkergate, Newcastle East, Gosforth and Parklands, North Moor, North Village, Newbiggin Hall, Westerhope, Denton, Newburn, Lemington, Cowgate and Blakelaw, Fenham, North Fenham, Woodlands, west Riverside, Armstrong and Westgate.

http://www.surestartnewcastlecc.org.uk/site
Sure Start Centres - Sure Start Centre oferuje informacje do wszystkich rodziców za darmo. Oferują informacji o lokalne grupy dzieci, porady zdowotne I wsparcie dla rodziców.

You'll also find information about local baby and toddler groups and support groups in your local free newspaper, on p.14 of The Chronicle Extra for example.

Można znaleźć informacje na temat lokalnych grup dla dzieci, i grupy wsparcia w lokalnej wolnej gazecie, na przykład The Chronicle Extra.

Made in Poland Festival May-June 2010

Ladies and Gentleman, the annual North East Made in Poland Festival is now upon us!

Made in Poland Festival

29th May 2010 – 27th June 2010
music / film / art exhibitions / theatre
With the aim of promoting Polish or Polish-inspired art, film and music, as well as educational and sport events, this annual festival, now in its third year, has a very diverse and exciting programme of events. You don't need to be Polish to enjoy a taste of Poland here in the North East! Everyone welcome! Please go to: http://www.madeinpolandfestival.co.uk to find out more.

The festival kicks off with the

International Children's Day Celebration

on Saturday 29th May, 12.30pm, at the Polish Club (2 Maple Terrace, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE4 7SF -next to Newcastle College). Admission is free. Once again, all welcome!

http://www.madeinpolandfestival.co.uk/mip10-29may.html

The Made in Poland Festival features in this month's Netmums 'What's On?' listings:

http://www.netmums.com/listings/WHATSON//105/May//