Christmas opening times for support services

Many services close during the Christmas and New Year holidays. Read more below on the opening times for Newcastle City Council, Jobcentre, foodbanks and support services are opening during the festive holidays

This information was updated on 20 December 2024. Many services will be closed 24, 25, 26, 27 December 2024 and 1 January 2025.

Please check with the service, if you are planning to use them as their opening times may change.

Festive bank holiday dates 2024 to 2025

Most services will be closed on the bank holidays. The dates for 2024 to 2025 are:

• Christmas Day Wednesday 25 December
• Boxing Day Thursday 26 December
• New Year’s Day  Wednesday 1 January 2025

Some services may also be closed on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve. Please contact the service to make sure they are open.

Adult Social Care

Adult Social CarePoint give information, signposting and support to adults in Newcastle who are struggling at home with day to day activities. If you are worried about the safety of an adult or the person who cares for them you can talk to them. They are open during normal office hours. Open Monday to Friday 8am to 5pm. Telephone: 0191 278 8377 or email [email protected].

In an emergency, 5pm to 8.30am on weekdays and at 24 hours a day at weekends the Emergency Duty Team is available. Telephone 0191 278 7878

Children’s and Families Safeguarding team at Newcastle City Council is available if you’re worried about the safety of a child.

Benefits advice and support

Newcastle City Council’s Welfare Rights Service advice line is open as normal 28, 29 and 30 December. Closed Christmas day, Boxing day and New Year’s day. The Welfare Rights Service drop-ins are closed between Christmas and New Year. They restart 9 January. Details of where to get benefits advice in Newcastle’s can be found on Newcastle City Council’s website.

Housing Benefit, Council Tax and Crisis Support services at Newcastle City Council will be open normal hours 27, 28, 29 December. They will be closed Christmas day, Boxing day and New Year’s day.

Universal Credit Online Claim Support at Newcastle Libraries: Closed over the bank holidays. Open 28 and 29 December at City Library.

Citizens Advice Newcastle (CAN) closed from 1pm 24 December and re-open at 10am on 2 January 2025.

Jobcentre Plus and DWP services will be closed on Wednesday 25 December to Friday 27 December 2024 and Wednesday 1 January 2025. For more information please visit Job Centre Christmas and New Year opening on GOV.UK

Benefit payment date

Department of work and pensions (DWP) telephone helplines will be closed on: Wednesday 25 December to Friday 27 December 2024 and Wednesday 1 January 2025

• Benefits payments due on Wednesday 25 or Thursday 26 December will be paid on Tuesday 24 December
• Universal Credit will be paid as normal on Friday 27 December, all other benefits will be paid on Tuesday 24 December
• Benefit payments due Wednesday 1 January will be paid Tuesday 31 December

Visit gov.uk to read how and when your benefits are paid.

Carers

Newcastle Carers are closed for drop-ins at 5pm on Monday 23 December 2024. They re-open at 9am on Thursday 2 January 2025.

Adults: Adult Social CarePoint  Monday to Friday 8am to 5pm
In an emergency, after 5pm and 24 hours a day at weekends contact the switchboard and ask for the Emergency Duty Team email [email protected] or phone 0191 278 8377. After 5pm and at weekends contact the Emergency Duty Team 0191 278 7878

Children: Care and support for children at Newcastle City Council: Initial Response Team on 0191 277 2500, Monday to Friday, 8.45am to 5pm. Emergency Duty Team on 0191 278 7878 (out of office hours).

Carers UK Forum: available to Carers UK members (join for free) available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Dementia and Alzheimer’s

Alzheimers Society Newcastle are closed 24, 25, 26 December 2024 and 1 January 2025. The Alzheimers Society National Dementia Helpline is open 10am-4pm on 24 and 26 and 9am- 5pm on 31 December 2024.

Dementia UK: Helpline for advice on caring for someone with dementia or to speak to an Admiral nurse. Phone 0800 888 6678 or email [email protected]

Silverline Memories are closed from 20 December 2024 and reopen on 6 January 2025.

Digital and computer support

Get Online Newcastle are closed from 12pm on 24 December 2024. They reopen on 6 January 2025. Messages left on their help line will be picked up on 6 January 2025.

Employability services

Supported Employment Service is closed on 24 December and re-open on 6 January 2025. 

Work & Thrive Central at City Library closes at 5pm on 20 December and re-opens at 10am on 6 January.

Energy services

Energy Services at Newcastle City Council is closed from 12pm on 24 December 2024. They reopen 2 January 2025.  For help with prepayment top ups, please contact your energy supplier. If your supplier is unable to help then please contact the Citizens Advice Consumer Service phone 0808 223 1133.

Foodbanks and Food Parcels

Newcastle Foodbank distributes emergency food parcels from a number of different places in Newcastle. You need a voucher or e- number to get a food parcel. See their listing for more details on how to be referred for a food parcel.

They are closed on 25, 26, 27 December 2024 and 1st January 2025. They will close at 1pm on 24 and 31 December. They are open during their usual hours outside of these dates.

St Vincents Newcastle are closed from 23 December 2024 to 1 January 2025. They will reopen 2 January 2025 with emergency food parcels and hot meals.

Kenton Food bank are open 10am to 4pm on 22 December 2024. Closed 23, 24, 25, 26, 27 December 2024. Open 28 and 29 December 2024 10am to 1pm. Closed from 30 December 2023 to 3 January 2025. They will re-open with usual hours from 6 January 2025.

Low cost food

Pottery Bank Community Centre are closed from 23 December 2024 to 6 January 2025

Free meals

People’s Kitchen provide free meals to people who need it in Newcastle. They are usually open Monday to Friday 6.30pm to 8.30pm and weekends 9.30am to 11.30am. Over the Christmas holidays they are also serving food during these times:

Crisis Skylight Newcastle active members can take part in their free activities. They are still accepting new members. If you are working with anyone who is homeless or at risk of homelessness this year who would benefit from becoming a member of Crisis Skylight, contact them for more information. Their activities include: festive films, crafts, trips to Tyneside Cinema, breakfast club

Crisis Skylight opening times:

• Closed 25 and 26 December 2024 and 1 January 2025
• Open 24, 27, 30 and 31 December 2024
• Open 2nd January for normal service 

GP surgeries and health centres

Many GP surgeries are closed on 25th, 26th December and 1st January 2025, NHS 111 can help with urgent repeat prescriptions if you run out of medicines.

Housing advice and homelessness prevention

Housing Advice Centre at Newcastle City Council are closed 25, 26 December 2024 and 1 January 2025. Otherwise they are open usual hours for advice: Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 12pm and 1pm to 4.30pm. 

Outside of opening hours the Emergency Homeless Service is open. Telephone: 0800 1707 008 (For the Emergency Homeless Service press option 2 for the Operator and ask for the Emergency Homeless Officer).

Shelter Newcastle are closed 25, 26 December 2024 and 1 January 2025

Supporting Independence Scheme (SIS) (basic household items to help you live independently) is open for enquiries and applications during office working hours. They will only make decisions and not schedule deliveries. Closed over the bank holidays.

If you are in an emergency or crisis situation there are Emergency or crisis support and funds available to help you pay for energy bills, household items, furniture, food, travel and other essential items.

Joseph Cowen Healthcare Centre is closed 25, 26 December 2024 and1 January 2025

Healthwatch Newcastle

Healthwatch Newcastle provide free help and information about how to access health and social care. Healthwatch Newcastle will be closed for the winter bank holidays from 4pm on the Tuesday 24 December until 10am Thursday 2 January. If you need help during this time, please call NHS 111 or contact Adult Social Care Point if you want to talk about any care-related needs. Always call 999 if your situation is life-threatening.

Housing associations

Newcastle Council Housing services offices will close at 12pm on 24 December 2024. They reopen on 2 January 2025. Emergencies can be reported during this time to 0191 278 7878.

Home Group customers can contact Customer Services on 0345 141 4663 and speak to their local housing manager between 28 and 30 December  

Education

Newcastle University Students’ Union (NUSU) and Student Advice centre will be closed on 20 December and reopens on 6 January 2024

Local Authority maintained schools and nurseries will close on Friday 20 December 2024 for Christmas holidays. They reopen on Monday 6 January 2025.

First schools, primary schools, middle schools, secondary schools, high schools and specialist schools may follow different dates. Please check your school’s website for more information.

Job Centre opening times

Jobcentre Plus and DWP services will be closed on Wednesday 25 December to Friday 27 December 2024 and Wednesday 1 January 2025. For more information please visit Job Centre Christmas and New Year opening on GOV.UK

Libraries

Newcastle City Libraries are closed: 25, 26 December 2024 and Monday 1 January 2025.

Jesmond Library is closed 24, 25 December 2024 and 1 January 2025.

Local charities voluntary and community groups

Caring Hands are closed from 23 December to 9 January.

Elders Council of Newcastle  will be closed from 23 December 2024 until January 3 2025

Healthworks will be closed from 1pm on 21 December 2024 and will re-open on 2 January 2025.

Marie Curie Newcastle’s wellbeing centre is open 10am to 12pm on 23, 24, 27, 30, and 31 December 2024 for a variety drop in sessions. This is for patients with a palliative diagnosis.

Search Newcastle Pop In Centre will be closed from 23 December 2024 to 6 January 2025

Search Newcastle main office site will be closed. There will be some staff available on the phone lines during the festive period. All advice and information services are closed from 5pm on 20 December 2024. Open again on 6 January 2025.

Skills for People are closed from 24 December 2024 to 2 January 2025.

The Wicker Chair Coffee House and Bistro is closed from 23 December to 3 January 2025

Volunteer Centre Newcastle  is closed from 20 December to 6 January 2025

Blue Sky Trust is closed from 25 December to 1 January.

Changing Lives is open 9am to 5pm on all working days over the Christmas period. It’s closed on Bank Holidays.

Children North East is open 9am to 5pm on all working days over the Christmas period. It’s closed on Bank Holidays.

The NewBridge Project will be closed from Friday 20 December 2024, and will reopen on Wednesday 5 February 2025.

Mental Health Support

There are telephone support lines and local support services.

Samaritans are available to talk to anyone 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, all year. Freephone 116 123 or email [email protected]

Crisis Resolution and Home Treatment Team are available 24 hours a day 7 days a week to provide assessment and home treatment for people over 16 experiencing a mental health crisis. This is not an ‘emergency’ service. Call freephone 0800 652 2863 or 0191 814 8899

Kooth free online counselling and mental health support for young people aged 11 to 18 years old. Their usual opening times are: Monday to Friday 12pm to 10pm and weekdays 6pm to 10pm. Over the festive period they are open:

• 24 December 12pm to 8pm
• 25 December 4pm to 8pm
• 26 December 12pm to 8pm
• 31 December 12pm to 8pm
• 1 January 2025 4pm to 8pm

Read more on InformationNOW about other mental health help:

• local support in Newcastle
• crisis or emergency support

Money and debt advice

Money Matters at Newcastle City Council is closed on 25 and 26 December 2024 and 1 January 2025. Normal hours begin from Tuesday 2nd January 2025.

Clean Slate help drug and alcohol users to get control of their finances. They are open during the festive period. They are closed on weekends and bank holidays 24 to 27 December 2024 and 2 January 2025. Residents can call 07528 067 327 to speak to the team  

Pharmacies

Your local pharmacy or chemist can help with prescriptions, medicines and give health advice. You don’t need an appointment. They can help quickly with minor health problems, such as: urinary tract infections, coughs, colds, stomach upsets and more. If you’re eligible for free prescriptions, you won’t pay for your medicines.

Find your local pharmacy and check their opening times on NHS website

Order and collect your prescriptions (or have them delivered) before Christmas. This will help avoid problems getting the medicines you need when your GP surgery and chemists are closed. You can order online or in your pharmacy and get them delivered to your home

NHS 111 can help with urgent repeat prescriptions, if you run out of medicines when other services are closed.

Public transport

Metro, buses and ferries are running a limited service on Christmas Eve and Boxing Day. There are no metro , buses or ferries running on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.

There are no Northern train services on Christmas Day, Boxing Day or New Year’s Day.

For more information on see the full Public Transport Timetable for Christmas and New Year 2024 on nexus.org.uk

Sexual Health Services

Sexual Health 4 Newcastle at New Croft Centre offers free contraception, advice and more. You can order a free kit to test yourself for STIs. It will be delivered to your home. They offer walk in sessions and appointments. Contact them to arrange a face to face appointment.

Open for walk in session 8.30am to 12.30pm, 23, 24, 27, 30, and 31, December 2024.

Closed 25, 26 December 2024 and 1 January 2025.

Waste and Recycling Centres

Open every day apart from 25, 26th December 2024 and 1st January 2025.  All centres will close at 4pm on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve but remember last entry times to the sites are 15 minutes before closing time for small loads  and 30 minutes before closing time for large loads.

Residents bin collection days will also change. Bins due on 25, 26 and 27 December 2024 will be collected later on 27, 28 and 29 December 2024. Bins due on 1, 2 and 3 January 2025 will be collected one day later on 2,3 and 4 January 2025

Real Christmas tree recycling

Local Christmas tree recycling points are located at the council’s 3 household waste recycling centres in Brunswick, Byker and Walbottle – you can find your nearest site here.

Worried about the safety of an adult or child over Christmas?

Report any safeguarding concerns to the Children’s and Families Safeguarding team at Newcastle City Council.

If you’re worried about the safety of an adult you can speak to Adult Social CarePoint.

Young people holiday activities

Newcastle’s Best Ever Winter programme is running during the Christmas break from a wide range of community settings including leisure venues, youth centre provision, community centres, schools and churches.  These sessions are for children who receive free school meals and meet the criteria.

All the sessions will provide healthy food, physical and enriching activities from arts and crafts, ice skating, dancing, swimming, and cooking lessons. Details of the activities available can be found on the Childrens and Families Newcastle Website.  

Read more about Newcastle Holiday Activities

Last updated: December 23, 2024